OARS (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, Summaries)

OARS is a set of communication skills used in counseling and coaching to promote effective, empathetic conversations. Open questions encourage sharing by inviting detailed responses. Affirmations recognize and reinforce positive qualities or efforts. Reflective listening involves paraphrasing or summarizing what the other person says to show understanding and clarify meaning. Summaries synthesize key points from the conversation to ensure mutual understanding and keep the discussion focused. Together, these skills foster trust, understanding, and collaboration, helping individuals explore their thoughts and feelings more openly and constructively.