What is the difference between being an active listener and a listener?

Tweet

An active listener is attentative and pays attention to the person who is talking. An active listener will stop everything that they are doing and give the person talking their undivided attention without any distractions. While a listener only hears what is being said and does things while the person is talking. A listener will text, watch tv, talk to someone else, write, and etc. and not give the person talking their full attention. It is important to be an active listener, because you might miss very valuable information that could be essential to what you are doing or where you are going. Practicing being an active listener will help one to pay attention to details and understand things better and reduce repetative questions and answers.