How does 'reflective listening' foster trust and rapport compared to simply 'active listening'?

While both active and reflective listening are valuable communication techniques, reflective listening fosters trust and rapport more effectively because it goes beyond simply paying attention and understanding the speaker's words. Active listening involves focusing intently on the speaker, asking clarifying questions, and providing verbal and nonverbal cues to show engagement, such as nodding and maintaining eye contact. Reflective listening, however, incorporates all of these elements and adds a deeper layer of understanding by reflecting back the speaker's feelings and emotions, not just their words. This involves identifying the underlying emotions being expressed, even if they are not explicitly stated, and verbalizing that understanding back to the speaker. For example, if someone says, 'I'm just so frustrated with my job,' an active listener might respond with, 'So, you're frustrated with your job.' A reflective listener, on the other hand, might respond with, 'It sounds like you're feeling really frustrated and maybe even a little overwhelmed by your job.' By reflecting back the emotions, the listener demonstrates empathy and validates the speaker's feelings. This helps the speaker feel truly understood and accepted, which builds trust and strengthens the relationship. Reflective listening also encourages the speaker to explore their emotions further, leading to greater self-awareness and insight. The deeper level of understanding and validation inherent in reflective listening fosters a stronger sense of connection and rapport compared to simply acknowledging the speaker's words.