Hearing vs. Listening “Was I paying attention?”

Hearing vs. Listening Do you think there is a difference between hearing and listening? Hearing is simply the act of perceiving sound by the ear. If you are not hearing-impaired, hearing simply happens. Listening, however, is something you consciously choose to do. Listening requires concentration so that your brain processes meaning from words and sentences. Listening leads to learning.

Most people tend to be "hard of listening" rather than "hard of hearing."

Listening... is intermittent.... is a learned skill.... is active.... implies using the message received.

The Process of Listening

Obstacles to Effective Listening Physical distractions Physiological distractions Psychological distractions Factual distractions Semantic distractions

Promoting Better Listening Desire to listen. Focus on the message. Listen for main ideas. Understand the speaker’s point of view.

Promoting Better Listening cont. Withhold judgment. Reinforce the message. Provide feedback. Listen with the body. Listen critically.

Types of Listening Active vs. Passive Positive vs. Negative What Kind is it? –Appreciative –Empathic –Discriminative –Analytical

Listening Importance Most frequently used communication skill – 50% of typical workday spent communicating – of this 50%, 45% is spent listening – 45% of business person’s salary earned listening Good listeners – are perceived as more intelligent – save time, energy, and other resources – increase chances for advancement and success

So to be successful An Interactive listener –In school –With friends –At work –With adults –With life

What is Interactive Listening? Cultivated Skill involving the goal- oriented active, positive process of receiving and attending to aural stimuli Conscious elimination of perceptual barriers

How Important is Interactive Listening? Critical for school/occupational advancement Leads to perception of intelligence Saves time, money, and resources

Improving Your Listening Skills Identify Objectives Know Your Listening Habits Generate Motivation and Energy Eliminate Distractions Ask questions –Closed –Open –Probing Evaluate Your Progress

Effective Listening The listener has a major role to play in hearing the complete message. It is not only the speakers job

Ten Commandments of Effective Listening 1.Stop talking! 2.Put the speaker at ease: Relax, smile, look at the speaker 3.Pay attention to the nonverbal language of physical gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, and body posture. 4.Listen for what is not said. Ask questions to clarify the meaning of words and the feelings involved, or ask the speaker to enlarge on the statement. 5.Know exactly what the other person is saying. Reflect back what the other person has said

6.Be aware of "tune out" words. Avoid arguing mentally. Listen to understand, not to oppose. 7.Concentrate on "hidden" emotional meanings. What are the real feelings behind the words? What do you want? 8.Be patient. Don't interrupt the speaker. This is disrespectful and suggests you want to talk instead of listen

9.Hold your temper! Try to keep your own emotions from interfering with your listening efficiency. 10.Empathize with the speaker. Try to "walk in the other's moccasins" so you can feel what that person is feeling and understand the point of view the speaker is trying to convey.

Conclusion Before you can get the most out of a listening situation, others must first believe that you really want to listen. They must feel that when they tell you something, it will be received by you in the proper spirit. Learn to listen beyond the words, with your heart as well as your ears. Observe the signs of the inner feelings Listen to LEARN