Being an empathetic listener requires the listener to listen and to let the victim talk. Good listeners will:
Put him- or herself in the speaker’s shoes in order to better understand the speaker’s point of view. Draw upon past experiences, or try to imagine how the speaker is feeling. Be careful not to completely take on the speaker’s feelings.
Listen for meaning, not just words, and pay close attention to the speaker’s nonverbal communication, such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
Paraphrase the speaker periodically to make sure that you have fully understood what the speaker has said and to indicate to the speaker that you are listening. This reinforces the communication process.
