This session aims to help us to develop good listening practices on the telephone and to eliminate the unhelpful ones.

Good listening is essential in order to create a good relationship with our Distance Befriending (DB) friends. We also gain information, get feedback, hear of their experiences and insights - and through listening we show that we respect and value someone and that we care about them.

True listening does not just involve paying attention to what is said. It is also about being sensitive to the other person's voice, choice of words, speed of delivery and tone.

Listening to someone on the telephone can present special challenges for the obvious reason that we cannot see each other. Therefore we cannot demonstrate feelings with body language (gestures, posture, facial expressions etc.). Nor can we indicate our responses with nods, eye contact and appropriate facial expressions, as we would do with face-to-face communication.

For optimum conditions for good listening, it is important to consider some preparations before the telephone call: ...

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