ABSTRACT
An effective response involves listening attentively and understanding the meaning of the message. Understanding what happens after a person talks and listening become crucial in the communication process. Effective communication involves both understanding the other person's world (listening) and conveying your understanding to that person (responding). Encouragers work continuously to understand the meanings and feelings of the discouraged person. This chapter focuses on improving the first of this communication components-listening. Effective communication involves both understanding the other person’s world (listening) and conveying your understanding to that person (responding). The biggest hindrance to effective communication is selfish listening and responding. The selfish communicator spends time judging rather than listening to the concerns of the other person. People play a number of roles when they aren’t sure about how to handle feeling that are being expressed by others. Some of these roles interfere with effective communication.
