Active Listening
What word or words is NOT a part of active Listening?
1. concentrating
2. understanding
3. responding
4. recording
4. recording
Which of the following is the best example of a SMART goal?
A) “I want to get better at math.”
B) “I will study math more when I have time.”
C) “I will improve my math grade from a C to a B by studying 1 hour a day, 5 days a week for the next month.”
D) “I should probably do more math homework.”
C) I will improve my math grade from a C to a B by studying 1 hour a day, 5 days a week for the next month.
Your Mentee is venting about how overwhelmed they are with work. You want to show you're actively listening.
What would you do?
A) Start talking about your own stressful week
B) Look at your phone while they talk
C) Nod, maintain eye contact, and say, “That sounds really tough. Want to talk more about it?”
D) Tell them, “You just need to get more organized.”
C) Nod, maintain eye contact, and say, “That sounds really tough. Want to talk more about it?”
What are two non-verbal clues that show you are actively listening?
1. Eye contact
2. Talking
3. Nodding
2. Talking
In SMART goals, what does the "M" stand for?
A) Motivated
B) Manageable
C) Measurable
D) Meaningful
C) Measurable
You're mentoring someone who is clearly frustrated but struggling to put their feelings into words. They say, “It’s just... everything is too much lately.”
What’s the most appropriate way to respond as an active listener?
A) “Yeah, life is hard for everyone.”
B) “Let me tell you what worked for me.”
C) “Can you tell me more about what ‘everything’ feels like for you?”
D) “You should probably take a break.”
C) “Can you tell me more about what ‘everything’ feels like for you?”
Which of the following is an example of effective feedback in active listening?
A) “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
B) “So what you’re saying is that you felt ignored during the meeting?”
C) “Let me tell you what I would do instead.”
D) Silence without any response
Answer: B) “So what you’re saying is that you felt ignored during the meeting?”
What makes a goal achievable?
A) It sounds exciting and big
B) It’s something you can realistically accomplish with effort
C) It guarantees success no matter what
D) It’s something no one has done before
B) It’s something you can realistically accomplish with effort
A mentee tells you, “I want to stop procrastinating.” You want to help them turn this into a SMART goal.
What’s the best first step?
A) Encourage them to download a to-do list app
B) Help them identify a specific task and a time frame to start with
C) Tell them everyone procrastinates and it’s not a big deal
D) Suggest they set 10 goals to stay busy
B) Help them identify a specific task and a time frame to start with
In active listening, why is it important to defer judgment?
A) To avoid getting bored during the conversation
B) So you don’t interrupt with premature advice or criticism
C) To speed up the conversation
D) Because agreeing with everything is necessary
Answer: B) So you don’t interrupt with premature advice or criticism
Which of the following goals is SMART in every category (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)?
A) “I want to get in shape someday.”
B) “I will go to the gym when I feel motivated.”
C) “I will work out 4 times a week for 30 minutes each session to improve my energy, starting Monday for the next 2 months.”
D) “I should probably exercise more.”
C) I will work out 4 times a week for 30 minutes each session to improve my energy, starting Monday for the next 2 months.
Your mentee says, “I want to feel more confident speaking in meetings at work.” You want to help them make this a SMART goal.
What is the best example of turning this into a SMART goal?
A) “Just be yourself and it will get easier.”
B) “Speak up whenever you get the chance.”
C) “I will contribute at least one comment or question during team meetings twice a week for the next month.”
D) “Confidence comes with time — don’t worry about it too much.”
C) “I will contribute at least one comment or question during team meetings twice a week for the next month.”
Which of the following best describes the role of body language in active listening?
A) It only matters if you speak loudly
B) It helps convey interest and understanding without interrupting
C) It’s less important than interrupting to clarify points
D) It should be avoided to focus on words only
Answer: B) It helps convey interest and understanding without interrupting
In the SMART framework, a goal like "I want to feel happier" is missing this critical element.
What is Specific?
A mentee says, “I keep saying I’ll start job hunting, but I never follow through. I guess I’m just lazy.”
As a peer mentor, what’s the most effective way to guide them using SMART goal principles?
A) “You just need to push yourself harder — no excuses.”
B) “Why don’t you aim to apply to 10 jobs today?”
C) “Let’s set a small, specific goal — like updating your résumé by Friday — and check in about it.”
D) “Yeah, sometimes we all get lazy. You’ll do it when you’re ready.”
C) “Let’s set a small, specific goal — like updating your résumé by Friday — and check in about it.”