Explore the various types of listening responses by completing the following steps:

a. Join with two partners to form a trio. Designate members as A, B, and C.

b. A begins by sharing a current, real problem with B.

The problem needn’t be a major life crisis, but it should be a real one. B should respond in whatever way seems most helpful. C’s job is to categorize each response by B as silent listening, questioning, paraphrasing, empathizing, supporting, analyzing, evaluating, or advising.

c. After a 4- to 5-minute discussion, C should summarize B’s response styles. A then describes which of the styles were most helpful and which were not helpful.

d. Repeat the same process two more times, switching roles so that each person has been in all of the positions.

e. Based on their findings, the trio should develop conclusions about what combination of response styles can be most helpful.