Which of the following individuals is demonstrating active listening skills in a conversation?

• A. Tatiana, who interrupts frequently to share her own experiences.
• B. Simone, who maintains eye contact, nods, and paraphrases what the speaker says to confirm understanding.
• C. Brandon, who looks at his phone while the other person is talking.
• D. Juana, who gives advice before the speaker finishes explaining their point.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of active listening. Active listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what the speaker is saying. It requires behaviors that show engagement and comprehension.
2. Step 2: Identify behaviors that indicate active listening. These include maintaining eye contact, nodding, paraphrasing or summarizing what the speaker says, and providing feedback that confirms understanding.
3. Step 3: Evaluate each individual's behavior against the active listening criteria. For example, interrupting frequently or looking at a phone suggests distraction or disengagement, which are not active listening.
4. Step 4: Recognize that Simone's behaviors—maintaining eye contact, nodding, and paraphrasing—demonstrate active listening because they show attention and effort to understand the speaker.
5. Step 5: Conclude that Simone is the individual demonstrating active listening skills, as her actions align with the key components of active listening.