Which communication technique focuses on understanding feelings behind a statement?

Reflective listening is a communication technique that prioritizes understanding not just the content of what is being said, but also the emotions and feelings behind the statements. This approach requires the listener to actively engage with the speaker, demonstrating empathy and validation of their feelings. It involves reflecting back what the speaker has said, often rephrasing it to highlight the emotional undercurrents. This helps to create a deeper connection and fosters an environment where the speaker feels heard and understood.

In the context of code enforcement, being able to grasp the underlying emotions in a conversation can be crucial. It allows enforcement officers to address community concerns more effectively, possibly reducing conflict and helping to facilitate compliance with codes.

Although probing, paraphrasing, and summarizing are valuable communication techniques, they do not specifically focus on understanding feelings. Probing seeks to extract more detailed information, paraphrasing repeats the content in a different way for clarity, and summarizing condenses the main points discussed. Reflective listening stands out because it emphasizes the emotional context, which can improve rapport and trust between parties involved in communication.