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Active Listening With Empathy: Soft Skills To Take Feedback

Name: Active Listening With Empathy: Soft Skills To Take Feedback
Rating: 4.6 (9243 reviews)

Active listening skills with empathy and emotional intelligence. Give and take feedback at work and personal life

Created byAlex Genadinik

Last updated 8/2026

English

German [Auto],Greek [Auto],

What you'll learn

#1 Udemy course to improve your listening skills at DEEPER LEVELS by using EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE to truly understand others
Learn the latest scientific research about active listening and listening to non-verbal cues
Become better at reading people, be more attentive to people's needs, and gain empathy and compassion
Make every conversation MORE MEANINGFUL and productive
Become the person others turn to for thoughtful, solution-driven conversations
Learn to read between the lines and respond to unspoken needs
Give constructive feedback that people listen to
Have people think about and make changes based on your feedback
Receive feedback with clarity and truly understand what people are communicating to you at a deeper level
Build stronger, more productive relationships through better listening
Master listening as a critical leadership and career skill
WORLD-CLASS student support: I answer 99% of student questions within 24 hours
PERSONALIZED HELP from the instructor: Join OFFICE HOURS Zoom call with the instructor and students to ask questions directly
Deepen connections with co-workers, family, and friends.
Improve your professional soft skills that are your secret weapon to get ahead in your career or business
Improve attention to detail and information retention with improved listening skills

Course content

11 sections • 54 lectures • 3h 3m total length

Active listening skills course introduction and warm welcome2:25
Learn to read body language alongside words using neuroscience insights, and apply the SB feedback model to give and receive respectful feedback, uncover blind spots, and strengthen teams with empathy.

Active listening skills definition - important professional soft skill2:54
Define active listening as fully listening, thinking about, and understanding the speaker's message; minimize distractions and biases, avoid interrupting, acknowledge understanding, and respond thoughtfully with notes.
Example of active listening and improved comprehension from this course3:09
Explore how active listening and deeper listening, aided by empathy, resolve miscommunications by uncovering root issues, improving comprehension, and transforming student experiences and life outcomes.
Cycle of constructive active listening and communication4:08
Practice the cycle of constructive listening by acknowledging, paraphrasing, and outlining an actionable plan, then confirm, document, and overdeliver to build trust and improve teamwork.
"Actions speak louder than words" - non-verbal communication6:31
Master nonverbal cues: eye contact, body language, dress, and punctuality, to deepen listening with empathy, practice conscious interpretation, and avoid misreading first impressions.
Listening skills exercise1:23
Practice an active listening exercise to distinguish what a vendor says from what they feel, spotting delays and updates. Compare your reasoning with the instructor to refine interpretation.
Listening skills exercise - answer2:36
Apply a four-step reasoning to feedback: assess competence from past work, explain project importance to boost priority, listen to bottlenecks, and decide whether to adjust efforts or switch vendors.
Your thoughts on this active listening training1:16
Encourage learners to leave a review to boost the course's credibility and help future students, noting reviews shape a fair environment and are easy to update from the course dashboard.
Active listening quiz
Advanced active listening quiz

Section introduction - listening to non-verbal communication1:19
Learn to listen for nonverbal cues such as posture, slouching, and leaning to interpret feelings beyond words, and bring these cues into your awareness.
The body language of your eyes3:27
Listening to the other person's body positioning and posture2:40
Develop active listening by reading body language and posture, interpreting eye contact, and watching cues like leaning forward or slouching; offer breaks and ask clarifying questions.
Bring something to take notes with to communicate that this is important for you1:23
Bring a planner, a note taking notepad, and a pen to professional meetings to show you value the speaker, look prepared, and stand out as an engaged listener.
Mirroring the other person's body language, building rapport, and raising energy3:34
Mirror the other person's body language to build rapport, match pace and energy, and guide the conversation toward value, deliverables, and clear next steps through active listening.
Listening to non-verbal and non-body-language cues3:47
Assess nonverbal cues from attire, acknowledge cultural differences in dress, and protect yourself by dressing slightly more professionally than expected while not judging others by appearance.
Listening to cues from decisions or circumstances2:08
Learn to read nonverbal cues beyond body language, such as meeting duration, location, and time of day, to collect clues and infer needs, guiding active listening with empathy and rapport.
Listen objectively by getting rid of your own positive and negative biases2:00
Recognize both positive and negative biases to listen objectively in active listening with empathy, avoiding shaded judgments and focusing on what others say.
Listening to the amount of time it takes the other person to reply2:36
Learn to read nonverbal cues by observing how quickly others reply in debates. Slow responses suggest thought; ask for time, rephrase if needed, and use timing to guide civil dialogue.
Cues to understand the level of engagement of your dialog partner2:30
Identify the level of engagement by tracking the questions your partner asks, the depth of their answers, and eye contact and body language to navigate conversations gracefully.
If you have aggressive dialog partners, here are ways to make them calm2:49
Use open ended questions to tire them out, build rapport, and gain insights when engaging with energetic or aggressive dialog partners, while avoiding petty back and forth.

Introduction to Dr. Lisa Feldman-Barrett9:03
Learn how Lisa Feldman Barrett's neuroscience and psychology reframes emotion, showing cultural and individual variability, and how to read nonverbal cues by collecting multiple clues like a detective.
Showing how there are not enough words in one language to describe all emotions8:55
Explore how anger expands into categories of emotion across languages, revealing nuanced flavors through terms like ira, okuri, ghadab, and fengnyu.
The role of bias in how you interpret non-verbal communication and body language3:02
Increasing accuracy of how you read non-verbal cues and facial expressions5:49
Learn to distinguish facial expressions from incidental movements, recognize cultural differences in non-verbal cues, and increase interpretation accuracy through familiarity and careful observation.
Neurodiversity and how it impacts our ability to read non-verbal communication4:12
Develop active listening with empathy by recognizing neurodiversity and reading non-verbal cues, staying sensitive to individual needs, and using proactive questions to support others.
Summary of listening to non-verbal communication2:28
Develop familiarity quickly by reading nonverbal cues and body language, increasing accuracy with each cue while considering culture, attentiveness, and avoiding hasty assumptions to build rapport.

Empathy, sympathy, and compassion - section introduction1:27
Explore advanced listening through empathy, sympathy, and compassion, learning to resonate with others and process your own emotions, to enhance relationships and communication.
What is empathy, sympathy, and compassion4:29
Clarify the differences between compassion, empathy, and sympathy, and learn how emotional intelligence and practice turn awareness into genuine care. Explore cultivating warm heartedness to enhance professional and personal interactions.
Dalai Lama: Kindheartedness is the mindset for empathy and compassion3:37
Develop warm heartedness and kindheartedness by cultivating a calm mind free from anger, envy, suspicion, hate, or fear, replacing biases with genuine concern that fuels empathy and compassion.
More on the distinction between Cognitive Empathy and Emotional Empathy3:48
Clarify the distinction between cognitive empathy and emotional empathy, emphasizing understanding the other’s worldview and feelings, communicating that understanding, and building trust for effective collaboration.
The negative impact of too much empathy2:02
Too much empathy can overwhelm you, spread you too thin, and dull your own needs. Set boundaries and practice self-control to sustain warmth without being exploited.
The work of Dr. Allan Schore and sharing of emotions between two people4:50
Discover deep emotional empathy and right brain to right brain attunement, shown by neuroimaging of synchronized brain activity, and apply nonverbal cue reading to build trust in professional relationships.
Thoughtfulness, caring, and being attentive to others2:04
Adopt an attentive, thoughtful mindset to elevate active listening, truly caring about others and attuning to their needs and body language.

What exactly is correct feedback1:13
Define feedback as an accurate, objective description of an event or performance, not criticism or praise, free of emotional judgment, enabling managers and leaders to take and give feedback productively.
Giving employee feedback3:11
Learn to give timely, specific feedback in private, balancing praise with clear improvement steps to build confidence and reveal blind spots for stronger performance.
Situation Behavior Impact (S.B.I Model)2:51
Discover the SBI (situation, behavior, impact) feedback model for giving and receiving constructive feedback in private, one-on-one settings, with examples for professional and personal use.
How to take feedback3:23
Take feedback in a private setting, listen actively, observe body language, resist replying quickly, then validate what you hear using the situation-behavior-impact-improvement model.
If you have to give negative feedback2:59
Deliver negative feedback face-to-face with empathy, be direct and clear, focus on one issue at a time, and plan a concise follow-up discussion.

Common errors when listening to and getting feedback, even if negative2:30
Listen without arguing, stay grateful for the time and effort others invest in giving feedback, and avoid blaming others while evaluating your own role to improve behavior.
Online reviews - listening and getting insights despite hurtful comments8:08
Learn to listen to online written feedback with empathy, extract insights from hurtful one-star and two-star reviews, and use them to improve your product and responses.

Section introduction - examples and impact of not active listening0:37
Explore examples of active listening versus not active listening in professional settings. Learn how applying active listening improves understanding and preserves business opportunities.
Example of not listening or "fake listening" by a company I no longer work with4:41
See a real-world client example of fake listening that dissolves trust when managers ignore feedback and fail to address issues, prompting the client to end the engagement.
Example of a listening mistake at a job when I was younger3:22
Develop active listening with empathy by staying attuned to customers' stated needs and delivering exactly what they ask, while offering balanced suggestions when appropriate to improve outcomes.

Section introduction - how to better retain information you listen to0:29
explore memory and retention strategies to improve listening, including note-taking techniques, memorization, and the difference between short-term and long-term memory for active listening.
Memory and retention of what you listen to4:23
Explore how short-term, working, and long-term memory shape listening, intelligence, and productivity, referencing Miller's law, and apply strategies, minimizing distractions, better sleep, and diet to boost retention.
Improving retention of what you learned - retention skills4:49
enhance retention by practicing repeated retrieval, testing, teaching others, and spacing reviews over days, while understanding the forgetting curve and Ebbinghaus, and factors like sleep and attention.
Note taking techniques to retain information better4:52
Prepare before the lecture by skimming topics, listing questions, and setting up color-coded, erasable notes with clear headings, then capture conclusions and key facts to boost retention.

Introduction to how Emotional Intelligence is related to Active Listening1:45
Explore how emotional intelligence relates to active listening by learning to delay reactions, control emotions, process information, and choose the right emotional responses to improve life and relationships.
Five-step formula for controlling your own emotions3:33
Master a five-step formula to control your emotions by identifying feelings, tracing root causes, seeking feedback, taking time to reflect when needed, and applying practical problem solving to prevent repeats.
Advanced emotional intelligence - emotions are strategies2:52
Mindfully observe stimuli, delay automatic reactions, and treat emotions as strategies to shape healthier responses such as gratitude, improving daily life and long-term well-being.
Controlling initial reactions2:39
Slow down your initial reactions to avoid rash interpretations, catch negative thoughts, and give your amygdala and evolved brain time to process, leading to more accurate, empathetic responses.
Easing into Emotional Intelligence, and understanding emotions4:41
Explore how people experience and describe emotions, and why understanding others' feelings is challenging in emotional intelligence. Learn reflective strategies to gain perspectives, reduce ego bias, and strengthen empathy.
Introduction to Emotional Intelligence of anger and fear6:30
Explore fear and anger as core emotions driving survival, from amygdala quick responses to prefrontal cortex evaluation, and uncover intelligence inside emotions guiding long-term strategies.

Requirements

No prerequisites, just an open mind and a desire to improve your listening skills

Description

You listen every day - now it’s time to learn active listening skills, and turn listening into a powerful advantage!

Make listening and understanding people a strength. Develop stronger bonds with others, and be more productive in your professional life, and more fulfilled in your personal life!

BECOME BETTER AT DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS LIKE TAKING FEEDBACK

This course teaches you how to give and receive feedback the right way, using the proven Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) model. No more awkward or tense conversations.

Giving or taking bad, critical, or negative feedback at work or in your interpersonal situations can be difficult. Sometimes the conversation might even turn negative, and escalate into a conflict that is accompanied by negative emotions like anger, frustration, or even fear.

You’ll gain the skills to listen better, read emotions clearly, and handle difficult conversations with confidence. Instead of letting things go wrong, you’ll know exactly how to steer them toward positive outcomes. Master these techniques and notice the immense improvement in the quality of your relationships

LEARN ACTIVE LISTENING

Active listening is a technique that is used in counseling, training, and solving disputes or conflicts. It requires that the listener fully concentrate, understand, respond, and then remember what is being said. This is opposed to other listening techniques like reflective listening and empathic listening.

USE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE TO LISTEN AND CONNECT BETTER

When you listen, there is much more to the conversation than just what's being said.

You have to think about the other person's emotions and do your best to direct their emotions and yours.

By mastering body language, facial cues, and tone of voice, you’ll build stronger connections, avoid misunderstandings, and achieve better results in every interaction.

LISTEN WITH EMPATHY TO BUILD TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING

Active listening is about truly understanding what people are saying. It's the process of hearing together with thinking about what is being said. It's also about suspending your own biases so you can better understand the other person. To be truly listening, you must be mentally present in the moment, and understand how the other person feels and how the topic of conversation impacts the other person's life.

You’ll learn exactly how to achieve that effortlessly, so it becomes a part of your personality.

ACTIVE LISTENING IS NOT JUST A PROFESSIONAL SKILL, IT IS A PART OF KINDNESS

Truly listening takes a significant effort. We only truly listen if something is very important to us or when we are actively caring about the other person, and giving them our full care and attention.

When you practice active listening, you show kindness, build trust, and make others feel valued—all while strengthening your personal and professional relationships.

THE LIFE-CHANGING BENEFITS OF ACTIVE LISTENING

Most of us want to get better at talking. But the REAL power tool for influencing others, leading, collaborating, having an impact, and being an an-all-around-better person is active listening. While regular listening can look like being blank and silent, Active Listening is engaged, creative, and responsive. It’s impactful!

Gain both the internal awareness and external skillset that are the foundation of active listening. You will be able to have far more satisfying, interesting, successful conversations.

THE COURSE IS PRACTICAL, NOT THEORETICAL

This is not a theoretical course, you can immediately apply active listening in this course and see results.

Every lesson will give you practical ideas that you can apply in your next conversation.

These are the same listening techniques that I have applied in my professional life and that I have shared with my clients in coaching, and that you can apply too.

HOW LISTENING HELPS ME (AND HOW IT CAN HELP YOU TOO)

As a professional, I know I need to keep improving everything about my work. I am also aware of having blindspots. I am human, and I don't always understand all the ways I need to improve. No one knows every way they need to improve. But we can learn.

This is why we must listen to cues from other people and various situations in life. People don’t often tell us directly what they want or what they would like us to improve. With active listening every conversation becomes more clear!

When we listen to others about how we can improve, and when we read subtle cues, it makes us better long-term.

HARNESS THE POWER OF REFLECTIVE LISTENING

Reflective listening is a term that is often used interchangeably with active listening, but it means going a step beyond just listening, but also reflecting on what the other person might be feeling and going through. Reflective listening helps you reach a deeper level of empathy.

GIVING AND RECEIVING FEEDBACK WITH IMPACT

Active listening is a critical skill in the workplace, especially when it comes to feedback. When you’re leading a team, collaborating with colleagues, or discussing performance, you’ll often find yourself giving and receiving feedback.

Enroll to learn how to truly understand the other person’s perspective when receiving feedback, so you can respond constructively and grow from every interaction.

LISTENING REDEFINED: TAKE YOUR SKILLS TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL

Yes, you already know how to listen, but this course transforms it into a life-changing skill. It’s most useful if you are leading a team, resolving conflicts, managing projects, or simply building better relationships. Active listening has an immediate impact.

You’ll be able to deal with tough feedback at work, read non-verbal cues in meetings, or truly understand a client’s needs—all with ease.

In just a few hours, you’ll master principles so simple yet powerful that anyone can apply them, no matter your current level of emotional or social skills.

This course is perfect for beginners but advanced enough to elevate even seasoned professionals.

It’s fast to learn, easy to implement, and relevant in every role.

Start today and see the difference active listening makes in your career and life.

DEVELOP YOUR SOFT SKILLS FOR BUSINESS

In professional settings, we often compete with co-workers or other businesses that have similar skillsets. Soft skills like leadership, communication skills, self-management, personal development, time management, and productivity will help you get ahead.

Improve your soft skills, and watch your business or career skyrocket.

RESPONSIVE AND CARING INSTRUCTOR: WORLD-CLASS STUDENT SUPPORT

If you have questions that come up while taking this active listening course, know that I am here to help! I answer 99% of student questions within 24 hours. Many students tell me that other instructors don't respond. Well, I do because:

1) I care about my students.

2) I feel a responsibility to make sure that students get their money's worth from the course.

Invest in yourself. Enroll today!

Who this course is for:

Professionals, leaders, managers, and people who just want to improve listening skills.
Leaders building trust and better team connections.
Individuals who want to master giving feedback and active listening.
Anyone wanting stronger relationships and understanding.
People who want to strengthen their professional soft skills.

Active Listening With Empathy: Soft Skills To Take Feedback

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction to your journey to master listening skills for success1 lecture • 2min

Essential listening skills: the foundation of effective communication7 lectures • 22min

Listening to non-verbal communication: decode non-verbal cues11 lectures • 28min

The science behind listening to non-verbal communication6 lectures • 33min

Listening with empathy, sympathy, and compassion: build stronger connections7 lectures • 22min

Master the art of giving and receiving feedback5 lectures • 14min

How to handle and grow from negative feedback2 lectures • 11min

Active listening examples and case studies in the workplace3 lectures • 9min

Boost retention with effective note-taking techniques4 lectures • 15min

Introduction to emotional intelligence: the key to being attuned to cues6 lectures • 22min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: