1. Begin your Self-Inventory while you are waiting; it is located in your student handbook under this titled section. Active Listening

2. Understanding Listening Self inventory Self inventory Barriers to Listening Barriers to Listening Topic uninteresting Topic uninteresting Criticizing speaker( appearance, communication style) Criticizing speaker( appearance, communication style) Fake attention Fake attention Getting over-stimulated by what the speaker says Getting over-stimulated by what the speaker says Distractions Distractions Personal prejudice Personal prejudice

3. How to improve Listening Skills Develop a desire (motivation) to listen, regardless of your interest level. Develop a desire (motivation) to listen, regardless of your interest level. Become aware of your own biases and attitudes. Become aware of your own biases and attitudes. What are “shock” words or situations What are “shock” words or situations Be open minded Be open minded Don’t listen only for facts Don’t listen only for facts Delay judgment Delay judgment

4. Listening Styles Passive Listening Passive listening is showing a person that you are interested without really speaking. Active Listening Active listening is using verbal responses to show acceptance, understanding respect, sympathy, and encouragement.

5. Passive Listening Passive Listening Techniques: Make eye contact Make eye contact Reflect your feelings with facial expressions Reflect your feelings with facial expressions Nod your head Nod your head Use short encouraging verbal responses (‘ uh-huh”) Use short encouraging verbal responses (‘ uh-huh”) Lean forward Lean forward

6. Active Listening Use verbal responses ( “Really?”, “I see”, “What happened next?”). Use verbal responses ( “Really?”, “I see”, “What happened next?”). Comment directly on what is being said. Comment directly on what is being said. Restate the speaker’s ideas in your own words (“Do you mean…..?”). Restate the speaker’s ideas in your own words (“Do you mean…..?”). Encourage the person to express feelings (“I guess you must have felt….”) Encourage the person to express feelings (“I guess you must have felt….”) Encourage more information (Tell me about…”) Encourage more information (Tell me about…”) Don’t pass judgment. Don’t pass judgment. Active Listening Techniques:

7. Volunteer??

8. Attending Attending: Giving all of your physical attention to another person. Attending: Giving all of your physical attention to another person. Huge impact on the quality of communication between two people. Huge impact on the quality of communication between two people. Let’s them know you are interested in what they have to say. Let’s them know you are interested in what they have to say. LACK of good attending communicates that you really don’t care about what you have to say. LACK of good attending communicates that you really don’t care about what you have to say.

9. How to Attend The body should be relaxed; alert posturing The body should be relaxed; alert posturing Leaning slightly toward the speaker Leaning slightly toward the speaker Communicates energy and attentiveness Communicates energy and attentiveness Face the other squarely, position yourself so you are at eye level with the speaker Face the other squarely, position yourself so you are at eye level with the speaker Communicates that your involved; places you out of authority figure, and helps with feelings of threat or fear. Communicates that your involved; places you out of authority figure, and helps with feelings of threat or fear. Maintain open posture (fosters interpersonal relatedness) Maintain open posture (fosters interpersonal relatedness) Closed posture (crossed arms or legs)- coldness, defensiveness Closed posture (crossed arms or legs)- coldness, defensiveness Awareness of proximity to the speaker Awareness of proximity to the speaker Personal space; boundaries-crossing can be defensive/ too much is a disconnect. Personal space; boundaries-crossing can be defensive/ too much is a disconnect.

10. TOO MUCH TO REMEMBER? Just SOLAR S - face the mentee(s) squarely O – have an open posture L – lean into the conversation E – eye contact R – be relaxed

11. QUESTIONS???