LISTENING SKILLS

A. Defining Listening

1. Hearing vs. listening - Hearing is a physical process in which sound waves enter the ear, but listening is a skill. We only remember 25% of what we hear.2. Definition – a complex process that involves being mindful, physically receiving messages, perceiving, responding and remembering

A. Defining Listening

3. Rate Gap We speak 120-180 words per minute but can listen 6 times that fast.

B. Barriers to Listening

B. Barriers to Listening

1. Message Overload – too much information

2. Message Complexity– too complicated or technical

3. Environmental Distraction – basically external interference

B. Barriers to Listening

4. Preoccupation – internal interference

5. Lack of Effort- you simply quit trying

C. Types of Listening

C. Types of Listening1. Appreciative

– listening for enjoyment, like music or soothing sounds

2. Discriminative – listening for a specific sound

3. Empathic – listening to people talk about problems

C. Types of Listening

4. Critical – listening to comprehend ideas and

information in order to achieve a specific goal 5. Deliberative

– listening to understand, analyze and evaluate a message in order to

make a decision

D. Forms of Non-listening

D. Forms of Non-listening

1. Pseudolistening – pretending to listen

2. Monopolizing – interrupting or shifting the conversation to yourself

3. Selective Listening – screening out things we’re not

interested in or with which disagree

D. Forms of Non-listening

4. Defensive Listening – assuming the other person doesn’t like you and taking everything the wrong way

5. Ambushing – listening to attack

the speaker

E. Improving Listening 1. Pay attention

2. Ask questions to clarify

3. Paraphrase the message – repeat in your own words to check accuracy

4. Write it down

5. Use aids to recall