Listening An Activity

Listening defined Maximize attention Influenced by context Verbal message Nonverbal message Influenced by context Listening capacity: 450-500 wpm Average speaking rate: 125 wpm

Benefits of Good Listening Habits Good listeners are better liked. Good listeners are promoted more often and hold higher positions in their companies. Managers often rank listening as the number one skill desired in an employee. Students who are good listeners take better notes and often get better grades. Successful speakers are good listeners--good speakers learn from other speakers (what works well and what works not so well).

Misconceptions re: Listening Listening is easy. Listening is a matter of intelligence. Listening is automatic, unplanned. Listening requires the same concentration as reading. If one doesn’t understand, it is the speaker’s fault.

Barriers to Effective Listening Physical—noise Personal distractions Physically ill or uncomfortable Life distractions, e.g., child ill, marriage rocky, job insecurity Psychological constraints, e.g., paranoia, phobia Jumping to conclusions Cultural differences/prejudices Connotative meanings

Four Stages of Listening Select: choose what to listen to. Attend: pay attention (speakers—work to hold audience’s attention) Understand: make sense of what you hear actively engage with the material. Remember: mentally review the ideas presented.

Effective Critical Listening Habits Listen seriously Resist distractions Ignore appearance and delivery Suspend judgment Check for personal biases and assumptions Focus on main points and evidence Identify key concepts Note personal reactions/reflections that surface Assess understanding (ask for clarification when needed) Take notes Listen for technique