Heard and understood: Bremen café makes listening an experience!

Heard and understood: Bremen café makes listening an experience!

In the Findorff district of Bremen, a very special project has established itself: Petra Haslop's “listening café”. Here the participants have the opportunity to speak continuously for five minutes - three times during a meeting. This meeting takes place monthly in the “Nahbe” neighborhood house and thus offers a valuable space for exchange and encounter. At the beginning, an issue or an open question is determined, such as "What is you alive in you?". Cell phones are subtly placed on silent or laid out of reach so that the atmosphere of the conversation remains undisturbed.

as the Evangelische Zeitung , listening is often seen as a rare skill in our time. Already in 1931, Kurt Tucholsky found that many people could not listen properly. Martin Hartung, linguist and discussion expert, emphasizes that listening is one of the most fundamental communicative skills that can be learned. In his opinion, internal willingness and certain techniques, such as eye contact and confirmations, are essential to promote this ability.

The art of listening

active listening includes a committed existence in conversation. It is more than just mouthwash and nod. As described on projects , the basic attitude of active listening is based on the axioms of the psychologist Carl Rogers. This includes empathy, authenticity and positive appreciation. This attitude can be supported by various verbal and non -verbal techniques that can improve communication.

The advantages of active listening are diverse. Those who actively listen can create trust and reduce misunderstandings. Questions and confirmations help to better process the spoken content, which leads to a more pleasant discussion atmosphere. Empathy and the ability to really understand the interlocutor are central building blocks for deeper relationships.

active listening at work and everyday life

active listening is not only important in the private sector. On nesus it becomes clear that 90% of managers consider active listening to be decisive for business success. Studies show that 71% of those surveyed indicate that they have improved their conflict resolution skills by listening. In addition, 65% of companies say that active listeners increase customer loyalty.

Foundations for active listening are the conscious use of non -verbal techniques, such as an open posture, eye contact and compliance with patience. Good listing can increase the quality of communication by up to 70% and increase efficiency in meetings by 30%. Ultimately, 51% of the success of the communication depends on the audience of the other, said Professor Lyman K. Steil.

So if you want to communicate more successfully in everyday life or at work, you should attach particular importance to active listening. Because as the experiences in the "listening café" show, it is often the listener who makes the difference.