Empathy and Active Listening Flashcards
7 cards from real Soft Skills - Communication practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Empathy and Active Listening flashcards as text
During a video call, which action best compensates for the reduced nonverbal cues in a virtual environment?
Answer: Verbally confirming understanding more frequently and using brief vocal affirmations.
In virtual settings, verbal check-ins and affirmations replace the nonverbal signals that naturally occur face-to-face.
An employee gives feedback that your meetings feel one-sided. The active listening principle most relevant here is:
Answer: Minimizing talk time as the leader to create space for others
Active listening leaders reduce their own talking time intentionally so team members feel space to contribute.
What is 'emotional contagion' and how does it relate to empathy?
Answer: The automatic mirroring of another person's emotions, which forms the neurological basis of affective empathy.
Emotional contagion — unconsciously catching another's feelings — is the physiological foundation of affective empathy.
A manager notices that a usually talkative team member has been quiet in recent meetings. An empathic leader should:
Answer: Privately check in by saying, 'I've noticed you've been quieter lately — how are you doing?'
Proactively and privately checking in demonstrates attentiveness to behavioral cues and concern for the person's wellbeing.
Which of the following best describes 'active' versus 'passive' listening?
Answer: Active listening involves full cognitive engagement and response; passive listening involves hearing without processing.
Active listening demands conscious attention, comprehension, and responsive feedback, whereas passive listening is surface-level hearing.
You're listening to a coworker explain a process and you realize you missed a key detail. The best active listening response is to:
Answer: Wait for them to finish, then say, 'Could you clarify the part about…?'
Waiting to ask a focused clarifying question shows respect for the speaker's flow while ensuring your understanding is accurate.
Which listening level is characterized by the listener attending only to surface content while ignoring emotion and subtext?
Answer: Literal listening
Literal listening focuses solely on the words spoken, missing the emotional and contextual layers of the message.