Providing information in a meaningful way serves as a basis for decisions which can have a profound influence on a student's entire life. Listen carefully and check your understanding by paraphrasing what advisees have said or by asking a question. Ask yourself whether advisees have asked the right questions. Discuss with your advisees their backgrounds and experiences, progress on their goals, and future plans. Such a discussion will provide you with helpful information, and it will reflect your concern for advisees as individuals.
Most communications have both an intellectual and an emotional component.
Listen for the emotional message . If the emotional part of the message seems to be out of proportion or inconsistent with the intellectual part, you may need to examine this discrepancy before a rational decision can be made. Always keep notes about what decisions have been made and why. A quick review before seeing students again will help you recall specific details. This is an important way to demonstrate your interest in students as individuals.