Enhancing Listening Skills: Active Listening Self-Assessment

Instructions:

1. Watch the Video Above (5-10 minutes):
   Watch the video on listening skills for police officers.
2. Self-Assessment: Reflect on Recent Conversations (5-10 minutes)
   Take a moment to reflect on a few recent conversations, whether with colleagues, supervisors, community members, or family. Answer the following questions for each conversation:
   • 1. Was I fully present during the conversation?
     • Did I eliminate distractions (e.g., phone, multitasking, etc.)?
     • Was I focused on the speaker, giving them my full attention?
   • 2. Did I show engagement through verbal and non-verbal cues?
     • Did I nod, maintain eye contact, and provide verbal affirmations like “I see,” “Go on,” or “Understood”?
     • Did I demonstrate empathy or understanding with my facial expressions or body language?
   • 3. Did I ask clarifying questions or give feedback?
     • Did I ask open-ended questions to invite more information?
     • Did I paraphrase what the person said to confirm I understood correctly (e.g., “So you’re saying that…”)?
   • 4. Did I interrupt or wait for the speaker to finish?
     • Did I allow the speaker to finish before responding, or did I interrupt them?
     • Did I give them enough time to express their thoughts completely?
   • 5. Did I make judgments or stay open-minded?
     • Did I approach the conversation with curiosity, avoiding assumptions or judgments about what was being said?
     • Did I remain open to the speaker’s perspective, especially if it differed from my own?
3. Score Your Responses (5 minutes):
   For each question, give yourself a score from 1-5 (1 = Never, 5 = Always) based on how you think you responded during the conversation.
   • Example:
     • "Was I fully present during the conversation?"
       • If I was distracted by my phone, score 2.
       • If I focused fully on the speaker, score 5.
4. Identify Areas for Improvement (5 minutes):
   After scoring your responses, look for patterns or areas where you scored lower. These are areas to work on. Write down one or two action steps to improve these areas in future conversations.
   • Example:
     • If you scored low in asking clarifying questions, your action step might be: “In my next conversation, I will ask at least one clarifying question to ensure I understand the speaker’s point.”
     • If you scored low in staying open-minded, your action step might be: “I will practice suspending judgment and ask open-ended questions to better understand the other person's perspective.”
5. Practice Active Listening (Ongoing Activity):
   • Over the next week, focus on actively listening in every conversation. Use the self-assessment to guide you. After each conversation, take a few seconds to reflect on how well you did and whether you followed through on your action steps.

Reflection Questions:

1. Which areas of active listening do I struggle with the most (e.g., staying fully present, asking clarifying questions, waiting to speak)?
2. What actions can I take to ensure I stay engaged and practice active listening in high-stress or fast-paced situations, such as during critical incidents or briefings?
3. How did my responses improve or change when I focused on active listening?
4. How can improving my active listening skills help build stronger relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and the community?