Active Listening in PMI-ACP Coaching and Mentoring within Teams

What is Active Listening?
Active Listening is a communication technique used in coaching and mentoring. It requires the listener to fully concentrate, interpret, understand, and reply thoughtfully to the speaker's words. It's about giving undivided attention to the speaker to ensure a complete understanding.

Why is it Important?
Active Listening is a key component of effective communication. It encourages respect and understanding. It is particularly important in team settings as it promotes problem-solving, helps avoid misunderstandings, and fosters a culture of empathy and collaboration.

How it Works?
Active Listening involves three key elements: Comprehending, Retaining, and Responding. Comprehension is understanding the speaker's message, retaining is recalling the information and, responding is displaying that you have understood and considered their points.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Active Listening
When faced with questions regarding Active Listening during the exam, remember to focus on the essentials; attentiveness, understanding, and feedback are crucial elements of Active Listening. Look for choices that illustrate these characteristics.
Consider also the context of the question - in team settings, solutions that display empathy and promote collaboration are often the best choices. Be mindful also of choices that may discourage or undermine Active Listening, such as preconceptions, interruptions or lack of attention.