What technique involves observing and responding to a speaker's messages for mutual understanding?

Active listening is a communication technique that emphasizes fully focusing, understanding, responding to, and remembering what the speaker is saying. This approach is interactive, as it requires the listener to not only absorb the information but also engage with the speaker through feedback, questions, and paraphrasing. The goal of active listening is to ensure mutual understanding between the speaker and the listener, allowing for a more productive dialogue.

In contrast, passive listening involves receiving messages without actively participating or offering any feedback. Reflective listening, while similar to active listening, particularly focuses on mirroring the speaker's thoughts and emotions, emphasizing empathy and validation rather than reciprocal exchange. Engaged listening further underscores an emotional connection, but it may not always include the systematic feedback structure characteristic of active listening. Active listening is the most comprehensive technique for mutual understanding through participation and feedback.