How can you use peer support to improve your listening skills?

1 What is peer support?

Peer support is a form of mutual aid, where people who have common experiences, interests, or goals offer each other emotional, practical, and social support. Peer support can take place in various settings, such as online forums, group meetings, mentoring programs, or informal networks. Peer support can help you cope with stress, learn new skills, solve problems, and achieve your objectives.

3 How to find peer support groups?

There are many ways to find peer support groups that suit your needs and preferences. You can start by looking for existing groups or communities that focus on your topic of interest, such as interpersonal skills, leadership development, or personal growth. You can search online, ask for recommendations, or join local events or workshops. You can also create your own peer support group by inviting people who have similar goals or challenges as you. You can use online platforms, such as social media, video conferencing, or messaging apps, to communicate and coordinate with your peers.

4 How to engage with peer support groups?

Engaging with a peer support group regularly and effectively is essential to making the most of your experience. Setting clear and realistic expectations with your peers, such as what you want to achieve and how often you want to meet, is a great place to start. Additionally, be respectful and supportive of your peers; listen with curiosity and compassion, offer constructive feedback, and acknowledge their contributions. It's also important to be honest and open in sharing your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with your peers; express your needs, concerns, and challenges, ask for help when needed, and accept feedback with gratitude. Finally, stay proactive and accountable by following through on commitments, updating your peers on progress and challenges, seeking feedback regularly, celebrating successes, and learning from failures.

5 How to evaluate your listening skills?

One of the benefits of peer support is that you can get feedback on your listening skills from your peers, as well as evaluate your own skills by reflecting on your interactions and behaviors. To assess your listening skills, ask yourself questions such as: do you pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues? Do you ask open-ended and clarifying questions? Do you paraphrase and summarize what your peers say? Are you avoiding distractions, interruptions, and assumptions? Are you empathizing with your peers' feelings without projecting your own biases or opinions? Are you providing relevant and helpful feedback without being intrusive or patronizing? Through peer support, you can improve your listening skills, develop a positive attitude, and overcome barriers to listening. You can find groups that match your interests and goals, and evaluate your listening skills with feedback and reflection.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?