Active listening means showing that you understand another person’s concerns and perspective rather than simply waiting to speak. In an interview, it helps you handle conflict questions and respond well when the interviewer does most of the talking. section 3.16 section 12.3
Use active listening to make difficult conversations more productive:
- Ask questions that uncover the root of a disagreement instead of focusing on personalities. section 3.16
- Listen for differing priorities, acknowledge what each person says, and help them move toward a compromise. section 3.16
- With a talkative interviewer, show genuine interest and add brief comments or questions that connect their remarks to your experience. section 12.3
Turning listening into a response
When two sales representatives disagreed about overlapping territories, an effective response would explain the questions asked, the answers heard, and what was said to defuse emotions and reach a resolution. During a talkative interviewer’s story, a brief response such as “That’s very interesting; I had a similar situation happen to me at my last job” demonstrates interest while creating space to share a relevant example. section 3.16 section 12.3
The goal is not to dominate the conversation or recite a script. Show that you heard the concern, connect it to the relevant experience, and explain how your questions and responses helped people feel heard. section 3.16 section 12.3
