1. Improving Your Listening Skills UI100: First-Year Seminar

2. Listening… Conduct Listening Assessment What did the assessment tell you about yourself? Were you surprised?

3. Listening… Listening involves the skill of grasping and interpreting a message’s genuine meaning. Listening is an activity; it requires attention, energy, and skill.

4. Ten Keys to Effective Listening KeysPoor ListenerGood Listener 1. Listen activelyIs passive, laid back Ask questions; paraphrases what is said 2. Find areas of interest Tunes out dry subjects Looks for opportunities, new learning 3. Resist distractions Is easily distractedFights distractions; tolerates bad habits; knows how to concentrate

5. Ten Keys to Effective Listening KeysPoor ListenerGood Listener 4. Capitalize on the fact that thought is faster than speech Tends to daydream with slow speakers Challenges, anticipates, summarizes; listens between lines to tone of voice 5. Be responsiveIs minimally involved Nods; shows interest, positive feedback 6. Judge content, not delivery Tunes out if delivery is poor Judges content; skips over delivery errors

6. Ten Keys to Effective Listening KeysPoor ListenerGood Listener 7. Hold one’s fireHas preconceptions; argues Does not judge until comprehension is complete 8. Listen for ideasListens for factsListens to central themes 9. Work at listening No energy output; faked attention Works hard; exhibits active body state, eye contact

7. Ten Keys to Effective Listening KeysPoor ListenerGood Listener 10. Exercise one’s mind Resists difficult material in favor of light, recreational material Uses heavier material as exercise for the mind.

8. Listening… Most people do not listen effectively! –Concentrate on what they are going to say next rather than what a person is saying.

9. Listening… The act of good listening affirms others, builds trust, and suppresses personal judgments that shape perceptions. Active listening is necessary in all aspects of your life. What aspects might that include?

10. Listening… If you become a leader in your organization, why might listening be important?

11. Listening… “Conversation: a vocal competition in which the one who is catching his breath is called the listener.” — Anonymous “Bore, n.: A person who talks when you wish him to listen.” — Ambrose Bierce