Listening

Common Barriers to Listening

• Thinking of our own answer and failing to hear the rest of what the speaker has to say

• Listening only for facts

• Faking attention

• Listening only to what is easy to understand

• Allowing emotion-laden words to interfere

• Viewing a topic as uninteresting

Improving Listening Skills

• Develop a motivation to listen, regardless your level of interest in the subject matter

• Infer the speaker's intent or purpose

• Become aware of your own biases and attitudes

• Be mentally and physically prepared to listen

• Delay judgement

• Listen not only for facts, but for main ideas, concepts, patterns, and how the information is being communicated

Communication Self-Inventory

Read the following list and put a check-mark next to habits that you currently have, even if you only use it 1/3 to 1/2 of the time. Then, re-read the list and put a second checkmark next to habits you perform nearly all of the time (75-100% of the time) while listening.

1. I analyze what I am hearing and try to interpret it to get the real meaning before I let the speaker know what I heard and understood.

2. I look at the speaker's face, eyes, body posture, and movement and I listen to his/her other vocal cues.

3. I think about other topics and concerns while listening.

4. I listen for what is not being said as well as for what is being said.

5. I fake attention to the speaker, especially if I am busy or think I know what the speaker is going to say.

6. I try to show in a physical way that I am listening and I try to put the speaker at ease.

7. I listen largely for the facts and details.

8. I am aware of my own facial, body, and vocal cues that I am using while listening.

9. I evaluate and judge what I have heard before checking out my interpretation with the speaker.

10. I prepare myself for listening by focusing my thoughts on the speaker and the expected topic.

11. I ask questions about what I have just heard before letting the speaker know what I have heard and understood.

12. I concentrate on what the speaker is saying and anticipate what he/she is going to say.

13. I avoid sympathizing with the speaker.

14. I find myself assuming I know what the speaker is going to say before they have finished speaking.

15. I accept the emotional sentiment of the speaker.

16. I try to answer the speaker as soon as he/she finishes.

17. I use "mirror" response for specific words or phrases that I need clarified.

18. I am uncomfortable with emotional sentiments of the speaker.

19. I paraphrase before giving my point of view.

20. I am easily distracted by noise or the speaker's manner of delivery.

Odd Numbers = Effective listening habits

Even Numbers = Ineffective listening habits