The benefits of becoming a better listener can make a significant impact on at risk teens you work with:
- Builds Trust: Active listening fosters a safe environment where teens feel valued and understood. This trust encourages them to open up about their feelings and experiences.
- Encourages Communication: By listening and not judging, the youth can express their thoughts and emotions, which improves their emotional well-being.
- Understand their Challenges: Listening allows one to identify the teens needs and concerns.
- Provide Validation: Listening can validate their feelings and experiences helping them feel recognized and show less acting out behavior.
- Encourage Positive Relationships: When a teen feels heard, their social skills and resiliency improves.
- Helps them Solve Problems: By listening, you guide youth to think through their issues and explore solutions rather than just reacting inappropriately.
You can become a better Listener, or you can train others in your organization to become listeners who Listen to the youth by:
Utilizing the ARISE “You Bet I’m Listening"
One quick tip to become an active listener:
The person has told you something and to show that you have listened say to the person any of the following prompts to show that you are listening and interested in what they are saying:
- Sounds like you are saying...
- I’m not sure I’m with you but…
- If I am hearing you correctly you…
- It sounds like what’s most important to you is…
- So as you see it...
