Learning from the Apolitical community: Active listening

At Apolitical, we’re conscious that members are involved in a community of lifelong learners. Our many varied events give an opportunity to members to pick each others’ brains, and to learn new skills.

We asked Apolitical community members who attended our “Mastering active listening in the public service” workshop to share what they learned. Here is what they said:

How would you define “active listening”?

• Listening to the other person’s point of view without interjecting or providing one's own opinion. Leaving [your] own biases on the side when listening.
• To observe and devote [ourselves] to understand by parking judgement, problem solving and suggesting, until we have fully understood.
• To me, active listening is when you fully concentrate on what is being said, rather than just hearing the message of the individual speaking.
• Active listening is concentrating on what the other person is saying and picking up the nuance of body language, voice tone, and building on the conversation.

How will it help you do your job better?

• It will help me understand my colleagues better and be more aware of my own biases.
• By holding on to internal dialogue.
• I will engage more meaningfully with colleagues.

Is there a technique you’d like to focus on?

• Listen, offer confirmation of understanding, minding my own biases.
• Better improve paraphrasing.
• I'd like to focus on my ability to concentrate more.

Why is active listening important in government, specifically?

• There is a lot of diversity of perspective in achieving common goals. Active listening will help encompass all points of view in moving forward when making decisions.
• To add value to doing your job effectively.
• It makes for efficient and more passionate leaders.
• Because we can serve the public and our delivery objectives by working together and actively listening more effectively.

**Did you also attend the workshop? If so, share what you learned using this form. **

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