Listening Overview Listening Listening vs Hearing Definition A

Listening

Overview • Listening – Listening vs Hearing – Definition – A five step listening process – What we know about it – Why is listening so difficult – Steps to better listening – How to help someone listen to you

Hearing vs Listening • Hearing – Physical act of receiving sound – Passive process – No effort • Listening – Selective process – Active process – Takes work

Definition: Listening A selective process of: q receiving, q attending to, q understanding, q Evaluating, and q responding to auditory messages

Five Step Listening Process • Receiving – starts with a sound • Attending to – paying attention to the sound • Understanding – assigning meaning “I get it!” • Evaluating – agreeing or disagreeing • Responding – action (verbal or non-verbal)

What We Know About It • Listening -- the most used communication skill Research shows: • Most people spend 70% of their waking time in some form of communication activity • Of this 70% of communication time: -- 10% is spent on writing -- 15% on reading -- 30% on talking -- 45% on listening

What we know about it, cont. • Listening - least developed of all communication skills. • Failure to listen is costly. • Listening - one of the most valuable skills you can develop. • Listening classes/workshops improve listening skills. • Communication process depends on listening.

Listening Habits Survey Scoring: (20 -100) Almost always = 2 Usually = 4 Sometimes = 6 Seldom = 8 Almost never = 10 Listening Habits Survey by Steil, Barker and Watson 80 or above is exceptional 70 is around average or normal Below 60 need improvement

Listening-Why So Difficult? • Uninteresting topics • Speaker’s delivery, appearance, or voice • Over stimulation by the message • Listening for facts • Outlining everything

Listening-Why So Difficult? Cont. • • • Faking attention Internal and external distractions Avoiding difficult material Emotional words Wasting the speed differential

Steps to Better Listening • Be conscious of your listening behavior • Motivate yourself to listen • Prepare to listen • Control your reactions • Work at listening • Listen for ideas • Concentrate on the message

Listening Suggestions How to Help Others Listen to You • Be a good listener yourself • Be interesting to talk to • Use good eye contact • Tell the truth • Use the listener’s name regularly

Summary • Listening – Listening vs Hearing – Definition – A five step listening process – What we know about it – Why is listening so difficult – Steps to better listening – How to help someone listen to you