Chapter 5: Listeners and Speakers

Active Listening 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP55nA8fQ9I Everybody loves Raymond

Discussion Prompt Almost 700 years ago, the Italian poet Dante wrote in his classic work The Devine Comedy, “He listens well who takes notes.” On the basis of your experiences, why is note taking such an important aid to good listening?

Listening Listening is the conscious act of Receiving messages; Comprehending messages; Interpreting messages; Evaluating messages; Responding to messages.

Recognize That We Listen Selectively Audience members process information differently. Selective perception People pay attention to certain messages Ignore others

Recognize That We Listen Selectively (cont.) Factors influencing what we listen to We pay attention to What we hold to be important; Information touching our experiences/backgrounds. We sort/filter information based on what we know.

Recognize That We Listen Selectively (cont.) Identify what is important to listeners. Show listeners what they can gain. Touch upon listeners’ experiences and backgrounds.

Recognize That We Listen Selectively (cont.) Build repetition of key ideas. Use analogies to help listeners learn. Use presentation aids when appropriate.

Listening and Critical Thinking Appreciative listening Music Comedy Entertainment Empathic listening Lending an ear to a friend Psychologist Comprehensive listening Classroom lecture Getting directions to a friend’s house Critical listening Sales pitch of a makeup consultant or car salesman Campaign speech of a political candidate

Anticipate Obstacles to Listening Active listening is focused and purposeful. Obstacles to listening External and internal distractions Scriptwriting and defensive listening Laziness and overconfidence Cultural barriers

Anticipate Obstacles to Listening (cont.) Minimize external and internal distractions. Environmental distractions (e.g., a siren) Try to anticipate and plan for them. Internal distractions Be well rested and avoid daydreaming. Monitor yourself and consciously focus.

Anticipate Obstacles to Listening (cont.) Guard against Scriptwriting Focusing on what you’ll say next Defensive listening Disliking the speaker’s words beforehand Deciding you know better

Anticipate Obstacles to Listening (cont.) Beware of laziness and overconfidence. Can manifest in several ways Expecting too little from the speaker Ignoring important information Displaying an arrogant attitude

Anticipate Obstacles to Listening (cont.) Work to overcome cultural barriers. As a listener Consciously refrain from prejudging the speaker; Focus on what is being said; Ask questions to reveal your needs.

Anticipate Obstacles to Listening (cont.) Work to overcome cultural barriers (cont.). As a speaker Eliminate or define idioms; Speak at an appropriate rate; Pay attention to pronunciation and articulation; Be alert to nonverbal cues; Clarify points when indicated.

Practice Active Listening Steps to active listening Set listening goals. Listen for main ideas. Watch for speaker’s nonverbal cues. Try to detect speaker’s organizational pattern.

Evaluate Evidence and Reasoning Use your critical faculties to Evaluate the speaker’s evidence; Analyze the speaker’s assumptions and biases; Assess the speaker’s reasoning; Consider multiple perspectives; Summarize and assess facts and evidence.

Strive for the Open and Respectful Exchange of Ideas Dialogic communication Sharing of ideas in respectful atmosphere Speaker Opportunity to achieve understanding with audience Listeners Being open-minded and empathetic

Offer Constructive and Compassionate Feedback Be honest and fair when evaluating. Adjust to the speaker’s style. Be compassionate in your criticism. Be selective in your criticism.

Thought/Speech Differential We listen at a much faster rate than we speak, creating a differential between “thought speed” and “speech speed.” This is one reason we are so easily distracted. To avoid the distraction of thinking ahead of the speaker, ask yourself questions about the speaker’s true meaning and any underlying assumptions he or she may have. Consider how your own biases are intruding on your listening, as well as how you can use the speaker’s information.

Active Listening 2 Is Ray listening now? How do you know? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs5vkevwjb8

Summary Questions What is listening, and why is it important? What are the major obstacles to active listening? What steps can you take to become a more active listener?