listening

• Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process
• Listening is key to all effective communication
• Listening is one of the most important skills you can have
• Listening is an active process of getting information and ideas
• Listening is the process of receiving, constructing meaning from, and responding to what is spoken
• Listening is not just about being quiet while someone else is speaking
• Listening is with the mind
• Listening is hearing with the senses
• Listening is being conscious
• A good listener pays attention to the non-verbal communication of the speaker
• Receiving:

  • Is the intentional focus on hearing a speaker’s message
  • This stage is represented by the ear because it is the primary tool involved with this stage of the listening process
• Understanding:

  • we attempt to learn the meaning of the message
  • Deciding what the message means to you
• Remembering:

  • begins with listening
  • If you can’t remember something that was said, you might not have been listening effectively
  • Highly complex messages that are filled with detail call for highly developed listening skills
• Evaluating:

  • The fourth stage in the listening process
  • Evaluations of the same message can vary widely from one listener to another
  • The stages two, three, and four are represented by the brain because it is the primary tool involved with these stages of the listening process
• Responding:

  • sometimes referred to as feedback—is the fifth and final stage of the listening process
  • Your reaction to the message can be emotional and intellectual
  • Feedback can be in the form of verbal feedback or nonverbal
• Listening is important to avoid communication errors, learn something new, and is key to success
• Basic Types of Listening

  Active Listening

  Selective Listening

  Empathetic Listening

  Ignoring Listening
• Active listening:

  • Understanding all things
  • Proper interaction
  • Proper feedback
• Selective listening:

  • Remembering only selective portions
  • When the topic is not to our liking
• Empathetic listening:

  • Goes beyond sympathy to seek a truer understanding of how others are feeling
  • Requires excellent discrimination and close attention to emotional signals
• Ignoring listening:

  • Not listening at all
  • Can lead to strained relations
• Process of Listening

  • Listening/Receiving
  • Understanding
  • Remembering
  • Evaluating
  • Feedback
• Importance of Listening

  • we show that we are serious
  • we display respect to other's view point
  • helps us to learn
  • helps us to adapt and understand
  • empathize
• Other Types of Listening

  • Deep Listening
  • Full Listening
  • Critical Listening
  • Therapeutic Listening
• Barriers to Effective Listening

  • pre-judgments about the speaker
  • assuming that the speaker is going to give some unimportant information
  • arriving late for a speech, presentation or lecture
  • judging the speaker by his/her mannerisms, voice, appearance, accent
  • lack of concentration/interest
  • avoiding listening to difficult, boring or complex information and selectively listening only
  • speaker or listener being distracted by disturbances
• How to listen effectively?

  • stop talking - be silent
  • show interest
  • empathize
  • ask questions
  • maintain eye contact
  • take notes
  • listen creatively
  • put your entirely
  • send feedback
  • avoid eliminate distraction
  • try to gather information about the topic to develop interest and familiarity
• Benefits of effective listening

  • enhances productivity
  • improves relations
  • avoid conflicts
  • improves understanding
  • improves negotiation skills
  • adds to your image & personality