Active listening can be seen and heard

A nod can help, but it doesn’t replace understanding

A nod, a brief “I understand” or quiet listening can signal that the other person has room to continue. But on their own, these don’t confirm that you’ve understood the content correctly or that you agree. Active listening also involves asking questions, paraphrasing and checking that you’ve understood the meaning correctly.

Try summarising one point: “If I understand correctly, what bothers you most is the change of date without warning.” Then give the person a chance to correct or add to your summary. You’ll learn more that way than by guessing from their facial expression.

Respect different ways of taking part, too. Some people need time to think, some take notes and others prefer short questions. If you don’t know whether the other person wants advice, you can ask: “Would you like me just to listen for now, or shall we look for a solution together?”

Listening doesn’t mean pretending to agree or taking responsibility for the other person’s feelings. It means giving them a chance to express themselves and checking what you’ve actually heard.