Active listening is listening to what someone is saying, and attempting to understand what is being said. It can be described in a lot of ways. Active listening is having good listening skills. The listener is attentive, nonjudgmental, non-interrupting. An active listener analyzers what the speaker is saying for hidden messages, and meanings contained in the verbal communication. An active listener looks for non-verbal messages from the speaker in order to indicate the full meaning of what is being said. With active listening, a person must be willing to hear what someone is saying and the intent to try to understand what the meaning of what the other person said. When active listening is used, there can be multiple benefits. Being an active listener means that you have the possibility to become a more effective listener over time, and your leadership skills will strengthen.

Active listening is an exchange between two or multiple people. When those people are active listeners, the quality of the conversation will be better and more clear. They connect with each other on a deeper level with each other in their conversations. Active listening can create more deep, and positive relationship between the individuals.

Active listening is important in bringing changes in the speaker's perspective. Clinical research and evidence show that active listening is a catalyst in a person's personal growth. The growth is specific with personality change and group development. A person will more likely listen to themselves if someone else is allowing them to speak and get their message across.

Active listening allows for us to be present in a conversation. Listening is a key factor in cultivating relationships because the more we understand the other person, the more connection we create, as taught in nonviolent communication Dharma teachings. As someone recently stated, "we should listen harder than we speak."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listening