Final answer:
True, according to Stephen Covey, empathic listening involves understanding the emotions and meaning behind the spoken words, not just the words themselves. It requires full emotional engagement and the ability to connect with the speaker's perspective.
Step-by-step explanation:
True. According to author Stephen Covey, empathic listening is indeed about listening not just to the words being spoken, but also to the meaning and feeling behind those words. Empathic listening embodies the practice of fully comprehending and connecting with the speaker's emotional state, thus going beyond the literal meaning of the words. Being a good listener parallels being a good reader, where one must pay attention to emotions and ideas, conveyed through tone, body gestures, and emphasis on certain words. We find empathy through connection by placing another person’s concerns at the forefront, attempting to understand their perspective and its complexities without judgment and interruption, and participating in their emotional journey. Moreover, the concept of 'negative capability' as discussed by John Keats highlights the importance of erasing one's identity to fully embrace and understand another's point of view, which is a skill critical in both reading poetry and practicing empathic listening.