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Staff Training

6 Tips for Active Listening #LittleThings

This video by SpunOut.ie is based on the Samaritans guidelines for active listening and highlights 6 easy tips on how to actively listen, and support a friend or loved one while helping them thorough a tough time.

Active Listening Strategies

  1. Ask open questions
  2. Summarise
  3. Reflect
  4. Clarity
  5. Encourage
  6. React

What not to say in response to a colleague’s poor mental health:

‘Everyone feels like this at this time of the school year’

‘You could try some yoga’

‘Teaching never gets any easier’

‘Have you tried thinking more positively?’

‘We all have bad days’ 

‘What have you got to be depressed about?’

‘Other people are much worse off’

‘Can you stop being so negative?’

‘You just need to go to bed earlier’

the power of vulnerability 

Brené Brown studies human connection -- our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.
 

listening to shame 

Shame is an unspoken epidemic, the secret behind many forms of broken behaviour. Brené Brown, whose earlier talk on vulnerability became a viral hit, explores what can happen when people confront their shame head-on. Her own humour, humanity and vulnerability shine through every word.