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• How to Actively Listen
• How to Edit the Table of Contents in Word
• How to Contribute to the Huffington Post

How to Actively Listen Posted: 03 May 2021 01:00 AM PDT If you want to get involved in deeper conversations, listening with your full attention helps you understand the topic better. Even if you think you're already a good listener, it's sometimes tough to engage with another person. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to stay focused on what the other person is saying. We'll start with some tips on body language and move on to things you can say to make the other person feel heard. [Edit]Steps [Edit]Get rid of distractions. Give the other person your full attention to show respect. When you're about to have a conversation, put your phone away, turn off the TV, and avoid looking around the room. Set aside anything that you're working on so you're not tempted to fidget or lose focus. If you're in a loud room, see if you can move to somewhere that's a little quieter so you can avoid the background noise.[1] This goes for mental distractions as well, such as fixating on the speaker's mannerisms or daydreaming. It's still okay to have quick, casual conversations from across the room, but move and face the person speaking if you're talking for a long time. [Edit]Maintain eye contact. Look at the other person while they're speaking so they know you're focused. It's okay to look away every now and then, but try to keep most of your focus on the other person's face. That way, you'll build a deeper connection and give your undivided attention to them.[2] We know that it can be hard to make eye contact if you're shy or uncertain, so try focusing on the space between their eyebrows or their mouth. You can even practice making eye contact with yourself in a mirror.[3] In some cultures, it's taboo and rude to make prolonged eye contact. Learn the customs of who you're speaking to so you don't make them feel uncomfortable. [Edit]Lean in toward the person. If you slouch back and cross your arms, you come across as disinterested. Instead, lean your body closer to the person speaking so you're more attentive and can hear them better. Keep your arms at your side to help you look more open and accepting to what they have to say.[4] Stay aware of your body language throughout the conversation and correct your posture if you realize you're closed off. [Edit]Smile and nod. Encourage the other person to keep speaking with simple facial expressions. Be mindful of your facial expressions so you don't accidentally make it seem like you're disapproving or disgusted. Instead, offer a kind smile and nod along with what they're saying to show you understand what they're saying. With a little bit of encouragement, you'll make the speaker feel more comfortable about opening up and truly saying what's on their mind.[5] Make sure your facial expressions match the tone of the conversation. For example, you probably shouldn't smile if you're talking about relationship issues or another difficult topic. [Edit]Give short verbal affirmations. Saying something like "mmhmm" or "I understand" keeps you engaged. If there's a brief pause, let the person know you're listening to them with a short, positive phrase. Be mindful not to speak over the person or interrupt them. The other person will get that you're understanding them and feel comfortable going deeper into the conversation. Other things you can try saying include:[6] "Okay." "Go on." "Oh?" "Then what happened?" [Edit]Avoid being judgmental. Let the other person speak their mind so you hear their perspective. Even if you don't fully agree with the person, don't let your personal prejudices get in the way of what they're saying. Rather than rudely putting the speaker down or asserting your opinions, keep an open mind and try to picture things from their point of view. Focus on their perspective of the topic and let them describe their thoughts.[7] Let go of any assumptions you have on the topic and approach the conversation with curiosity. That way, you can be exposed to new points of view you haven't considered before. Check the person's body language for any underlying emotions they might be feeling. For example, if the person thought you promised to do chores around the house in the morning and you didn't do them, they might feel a little upset. [Edit]Stop thinking of what to say next. Thinking about your side of the conversation distracts you more. Rather than waiting for your turn to talk, shut out those thoughts until the person is done speaking. Listen completely to the other person until they don't have anything else to say so you can fully reflect on how they feel about the topic.[8] Try not to get fixated on how you'll respond to a minor thing the person says. Instead, listen to their entire side of the conversation so you can understand where they're coming from better. [Edit]Let them finish without interruption. Avoid cutting the other person off so you don't seem rude. Even though you may want to point out something the person says in the moment, hold the thought until they explain everything. If they pause in the middle of a sentence, let them collect their thoughts and finish rather than interjecting. When it's your turn in the conversation, take everything they said into consideration before bringing up your points.[9] Try not to rush the other person through what they're saying. Let the person go through the details they want to go over since it might be important to how they're feeling. [Edit]Ask open-ended questions for clarification. Encourage the person to speak more so you can understand them better. Open-ended questions also show that you were listening to the points they were making and that you're genuinely interested in understanding them. Some questions you can try out include:[10] "What did you mean by that?" "What are some of the other possibilities?" "How else could you explain this?" "What alternatives have you considered?" Be cautious using "why" questions since they might make the other person more defensive. For example, the question "Why would you think that?" could sound like you're questioning how they feel.[11] [Edit]Restate their points in your own words. Repeat things that they've said to ensure you're hearing them correctly. It's okay if you don't understand them completely since they'll be able to correct you while you're summarizing what they said.[12] For example, you could say, "Let me see if I'm clear about this, you're upset because I didn't wash the dishes this morning. Is that correct?" As another example, you could say, "So you're feeling angry because I made plans this weekend without asking you. Am I understanding that right?" [Edit]Validate the other person's feelings. Show empathy for them to show you really care. It takes a lot of courage to open up and really talk through things, so let the person know that you understand their emotions. Don't get defensive or try to question them, but instead let them know that their feelings are valid and justified. It doesn't matter if you fully agree with them, but it still makes the person feel like you care and shows that you listened to what they told you.[13] For example, you could say, "I completely understand why that situation made you frustrated." As another example, you might tell them, "I sense that you're upset and that makes complete sense." [Edit]Avoid giving advice. The other person might not be asking for a solution to their problem. Rather than trying to solve the issue the person is going through, just be there to listen and validate their experiences. You don't need to tell them about a similar experience you've been through or offer any help if they aren't looking for it. Before you give any words of advice, make sure you understand their perspective completely and ask them if they're looking for helpful responses.[14] For example, you could say, "I understand what you're saying. Is there anything I can do to help out or did you just want to vent?" [Edit]Tips It's okay if there's silence or pauses in the conversation. Take that time to really reflect on what the person said before responding.[15] [Edit]Warnings Avoid making jokes or sarcastic comments while the other person is speaking since it can be distracting and take away from their emotions.[16] If someone doesn't want to share information when you're trying to dig deeper, don't force them to talk. They might feel uncomfortable about the topic or want to keep it private.[17] Try your best not to get defensive about what someone says. If you disagree with them, try to consider things from their perspective.[18] [Edit]Related wikiHows Listen Meditate Focus Avoid Distractions While Studying [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2012/11/09/10-steps-to-effective-listening/?sh=4f531ae93891 ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2012/11/09/10-steps-to-effective-listening/?sh=4f531ae93891 ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/eye_contact_dont_make_these_mistakes ↑ https://today.duke.edu/2019/06/how-practice-active-listening ↑ https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/sites/default/files/docs/learningguide-activelistening.pdf ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/become-a-better-listener-active-listening ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-novel-perspective/202010/how-actively-listen-during-triggering-conversations ↑ https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/communicating-relationships/communicating/active-listening ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-it-together/202006/active-listening-skills ↑ https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/sites/default/files/docs/learningguide-activelistening.pdf ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/become-a-better-listener-active-listening ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/become-a-better-listener-active-listening ↑ https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/active_listening ↑ https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/active_listening ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-right-balance/201610/are-you-really-listening-or-just-waiting-talk ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-it-together/202006/active-listening-skills ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/become-a-better-listener-active-listening#The-Art-of-Questioning ↑ https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/sites/default/files/docs/learningguide-activelistening.pdf

How to Edit the Table of Contents in Word Posted: 02 May 2021 05:00 PM PDT This wikiHow teaches you how to customize and update the table of contents in your Word document. When you create a table of contents in Word, page numbers are added automatically based on the headings you've added to each section. Word makes it easy to customize the way the page numbers and section titles appear on the table. If you make changes to your document that affects your section headers or page numbers, you'll need to choose the Update Table option so the table of contents remains correct. [Edit]Steps [Edit]Adding a Table of Contents Format the headings of each section of your document. Word's table of contents builder automatically generates a table of contents based on the headings in your document.[1] This means each section that you want represented in your table of contents must have a properly-formatted heading. If a section should appear as a primary section in the table of contents, select its heading, click the Home tab, and then select Heading 1 on the "Styles" panel. To add a sub-section to the primary section in the table of contents, give that section a Heading 2 header: Select its heading and choose Heading 2 from the Styles section. You can can also use Heading 3, Heading 4, etc., to add even more pages to your table of contents. Make sure any page you want to include in the table of contents has a heading. Click the location where you want to insert the table of contents. Typically this will be at the beginning of your document. Click the tab. It's at the top of Word. Click on the toolbar. It's at the upper-left corner of Word. A list of Table of Contents styles will expand. Select an automatic style template. Several style options appear for your table of contents—choose one of the suggested styles to get started. Once selected, this will add a table of contents that lists the page numbers for each of your formatted sections. [Edit]Updating the Table of Contents Click the tab. It's at the top of Word.[2] Use this method if you've made a change (changing a heading, adding/removing pages) to your document and need to update the table of contents to reflect that change. The only way to change the name of a section on the table of contents is to change the name of the corresponding header in the document. Click on the "Table of Contents" panel. It's in the upper-left corner. Two options will appear. Select an update option. Select Update page numbers only if you want to refresh the page numbers without applying any changes you've made to the headings. Select Update entire table to apply all heading and page number changes. Click . The table of contents is now up-to-date. [Edit]Stylizing the Table of Contents Click the tab. It's at the top of Word. Click on the toolbar. It's at the upper-left corner of Word. A list of Table of Contents styles will expand. Click on the menu. This opens the Table of Contents dialog box. Adjust your general preferences. The "Print Preview" box at the upper-left corner shows you how the printed table of contents will appear, while the "Web preview" box displays how it will look on the web.[3] Use the checkbox next to "Show page numbers" to show or hide page numbers. If you just want to hide page numbers on the web version of the table of contents, check the box next to "Use hyperlinks instead of page numbers." Use the checkbox next to "Right align pages numbers" top adjust the alignment. To change the style of the line or pattern that separates the heading title and the page number, make your selection from the "Tab leader" menu. To choose another theme, select something from the "Format" menu. To adjust how many heading levels are displayed in the table, select an option from the "Show levels" menu (the default is 3). Click the button. It's in the lower-right corner of the window. This is where you can change the properties of the text on the table of contents page. If you don't see this button, click the "Formats" menu and select From template. It should appear then. Select a style and click . The styles you can change appear in the "Styles" box on the left side of the window. When you click a style (e.g., TOC 1), you'll see the font size, spacing, and other details—clicking Modify allows you to change these details. Make your changes and click . You can choose different fonts, alignments, colors, and numerous other details for each selected style. Alternatively, you can keep the defaults, which come from the table of contents template you selected. Click . The style changes you've made will apply to your table of contents immediately. [Edit]Video [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-a-table-of-contents-882e8564-0edb-435e-84b5-1d8552ccf0c0 ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/update-a-table-of-contents-6c727329-d8fd-44fe-83b7-fa7fe3d8ac7a ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/format-or-customize-a-table-of-contents-9d85eb9c-0b55-4795-8abb-a49885b3a58d#ID0EAACAAA=Newer_versions

How to Contribute to the Huffington Post Posted: 02 May 2021 09:00 AM PDT If you've been reading The Huffington Post (now officially called HuffPost) for a few years, you know that guest bloggers used to write a lot of its content. The system has changed over the years, but writers are still welcome to pitch article ideas for the site. The process is easy enough, but learning about HuffPosts's specific needs and the format they want you to follow will help your submission stand out from the crowd. We can also tell you how to contact HuffPost for other reasons, such as offering your photography work, giving them news scoops, or sending feedback on an article. [Edit]Steps [Edit]How do I contact The Huffington Post about an article submission? Always email the editorial team directly. If you send your pitch through an agent, PR person, or anyone else, HuffPost will not accept it. Pitch lifestyle articles to the section that fits best. HuffPost doesn't accept pitches on just any subject, and most of its politics and entertainment coverage is written in-house. But you can still contribute writing in the form of personal, blog-style posts, or articles on certain topics with a broad appeal. Each of these has its own associated email:[1] For first-person, introspective stories about your own experience, email the Personals section at pitch@huffpost.com (for the US website) or ukpersonal@huffpost.com (UK).[2] Reach the Canadian site at canadapitch@huffpost.com.[3] For anything related to food, cooking, or the food industry, email food@huffpost.com. For fashion and style topics, including social media and influencers, email style@huffpost.com. For articles on mental and physical health, fitness, and human behavior, email wellness@huffpost.com. Pitch traditional journalism pieces to HuffPost Enterprise. HuffPost sometimes accepts pitches for original reporting that matches their focus. In particular, this means articles on social and economic justice, the environment, politics, and the cultural debates surrounding these topics.[4] There are two places you can currently send your submission: Email most journalism pitches to pitch.us@huffpost.com. For opinion pieces on the Canadian news cycle, contact canadapitch@huffpost.com. (The other English-language sites are not currently soliciting guest opinion pieces.) [Edit]How do I pitch a blog or an article to The Huffington Post? Write your pitch as a two to three paragraph summary. This isn't a detailed outline of your piece, just a good enough sketch to hook a HuffPost editor's interest and convince them you have a plan. Here are some ideas for approaching this:[5] To pitch a story about an important event or period in your life, describe the progression of the piece through time. What part of the story will you open on? How will events progress over the course of the piece? If your story involves multiple people, make sure you mention them all in a clear, concise way along with their role in the story. Will you be talking about your family members or lovers in a personal story? If you want to speak for a wider community or describe events that affected many people, do you have key sources that will complement your own perspective? Ultimately, what message can you bring to HuffPost readers? Why is this message particularly timely given recent news events, cultural trends, or the state of the modern world? Why is it important that readers listen to your insights? Include a suggested headline for all submissions. If you're having trouble, browse HuffPost for example formats, or try a brainstorm exercise to jumpstart your imagination. Introduce yourself. Why are you the best person to write this piece? Pitching your story as a personal, even raw account of your experience or events that you witnessed is a great way to get noticed by HuffPost. Aim for a two to three sentence summary of yourself as an authentic person: mentioning that you have X years of writing experience doesn't hurt, but what will really grab an editor's attention is a story that only you can tell. HuffPost is especially interested in writers from underrepresented backgrounds. If you are LGBTQ+ or BIPOC, for example, think about how that perspective affected the experience you want to write about. You don't have to make the piece solely about one aspect of your identity, but if it is relevant, fold it into your pitch. Tailor your pitch to fit the site's content and style. Most of the pitches HuffPost accepts are original stories that turn news or cultural topics into something personal. There are a few ways to make your pitch fit the HuffPost style:[6] Tie the larger story to your own identity and life. Many HuffPost stories are about how world events affect lived experiences, especially those of marginalized people. Write honest or even painful stories. Opening up about parenting, sex, mental health, and other private and complicated experiences will help you connect to HuffPost's readers. If you can, write a pitch for a current article series. For example, if you can make your idea fit the format of "Voices in Food" or "Conscious Consumer", it will be easier for HuffPost to publish your article.[7] [Edit]Can I contribute art, video, or multimedia content to The Huffington Post? Yes, visual contributors can send their information to the photo department. Graphic artists, video producers, and anyone else in the visual arts can send their information to photos@huffpost.com directly (not via an agent or PR person). HuffPost doesn't respond to all submissions, but an editor will reply if they are interested in working with you. Include all of the following in your email:[8] A short bio describing yourself and your work history Your pay rate A portfolio of your work [Edit]Does The Huffington Post pay writers? Yes, almost all published submissions are paid. The website did run an unpaid contributor program for many years, but that ended in 2018.[9] Now it is harder to get published on the site, but the writers who do get accepted for the main site are always paid for their work.[10] The exact amount seems to vary widely, so be prepared to negotiate: guest writers report being paid an average of 20 cents per word, but sometimes as much as 50.[11] The HuffPost sites for news outside of the US may have slightly different policies. The Canadian site states that "many" of its writers are paid, for example.[12] [Edit]How do I give feedback or make a correction to the Huffington Post? Correct mistakes via the Report Corrections button or email. If you want to contact HuffPost as a reader, there are several ways to get the information to the right place:[13] To correct a mistake or a typo, click the "Report Corrections" button at the bottom of the article. If your feedback isn't about a specific article, email corrections@huffingtonpost.com. Contact customer support for help using the site. If you have questions about any site features, email support@huffpost.com or browse answers at https://help.huffpost.com/s/. [Edit]How do I give a news tip to The Huffington Post? Send sensitive news tips through secure methods only. If you have access to insider information about an industry or government agency, HuffPost will review it at scoops@huffpost.com. The site recommends you take every precaution to protect your anonymity, including:[14] Contacting them outside of work hours, over public WiFi, and from your browser's incognito mode. Use the SecureDrop file transfer system with Tor Browser. Remove the metadata from all files before sending them. (For example, any information created as an Adobe PDF should have its metadata deleted using the menu at → → → → .[15]) [Edit]References ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/static/how-to-pitch-huffpost ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/how-to-pitch-huffpost-uk-personal_uk_5d1c8f65e4b03d611644e815 ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2019/05/01/pitch-to-huffpost-canada-opinion-personal_a_23719407/ ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/static/how-to-pitch-huffpost ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/static/how-to-pitch-huffpost ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/how-to-pitch-huffpost-uk-personal_uk_5d1c8f65e4b03d611644e815 ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/static/how-to-pitch-huffpost ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/static/how-to-pitch-huffpost ↑ https://guestpost.com/blog/2018/03/huffpost-close-contributor-program/ ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/static/how-to-pitch-huffpost ↑ http://whopayswriters.com/#/publication/huffington-post ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2019/05/01/pitch-to-huffpost-canada-opinion-personal_a_23719407/ ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/static/contact-us ↑ https://img.huffingtonpost.com/securedrop ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/pdf-properties-metadata.html#edit_document_metadata

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