The Art of Listening

Communication, once thought of as a soft skill for physicians, is now recognized as an essential skill. This article asserts that listening is the foundation of good communication and that all physicians can become better listeners if they have the desire to improve and are intentional about how they approach listening. The authors share five strategies to help physicians improve their skills: listening with curiosity, reflective listening, empathic listening, listening for discrepancies and listening in silence.