Listening Skills

Importance of Listening Skills In daily communication we spend our time as follows: Writing 9 percent Reading 16 percent Speaking 30 percent Listening 45 percent

Problems with Ineffective Listening Poor listeners are perceived as less intelligent. In some careers, life and death situations are determined by an employee’s listening skills. Ineffective listening costs the company

Hearing Hearing occurs when your ears pick up sound waves being transmitted by a speaker. Hearing is an INACTIVE, INVOLUNTARY process.

Listening Listening involves recognizing, understanding and accurately interpreting messages received. Listening is an ACTIVE, VOLUNTARY process which requires ENERGY.

BARRIERS Physiological Environment Attitudinal Hearing Impairment Speaking-Thinking rate Environment Physical Message Overload Attitudinal Prejudices Pre occupation Casual attitude Egocentrism

Goal Setting for Interactive Listening Identify Objectives What must I get out of this message? What would I like to get out of this situation? What should others get out of my listening to them? Listening Style Four types of listening: information, enjoyment, evaluation, and feelings Listening Approach Four approaches to listening: Discriminative, Comprehensive, Critical, Active

Communication Competence: Interactive Listening Interactive listening is an ongoing, complex, and dynamic process. Guidelines to becoming an interactive listener: Motivation & Preparedness Objective Talk less Ask questions Use nonverbal behavior Avoid boredom

Dismantle The Three D’s Distraction Focus on the speaker Take notes to stay on track Disorientation Simply information to its basic level Focus on main points Defensiveness Understand that its not about “you” Ask objective questions to self about content

Improve Listening Skills Challenge: Calling the subject uninteresting Criticizing the speaker’s delivery Disagreeing with the message Suggestion: Shift for practical information Concentrate on the Message Hear the person out before judging

Improve Listening Skills (cont’d) Challenge: Listening only for facts Trying to outline a disorganized talk Suggestion: Listen for main ideas Be flexible in note taking

Empathize Adjust with delivery Use Feedback Clarity Be Interesting Tips For Speaker Empathize Adjust with delivery Use Feedback Clarity Be Interesting