Listening Skills

Strategies to develop effective

listening

Hearing

Listening

A physical process.

A Physical, psychological
and emotional process.

Sound waves strike against

ear drums.

A process that includes

hearing, listening,
comprehending, and
responding to the speaker.

Informal and less

Conscious.

Formal & Conscious.

Hearing vs. Listening

Listening is not my problem!

Listening and hearing are the same
Good readers are good listeners
Smarter people are better listeners
Listening improves with age
Listening skills are difficult to learn

Fallacies about Listening

Learning not to listen

Thinking about what we are going to say
rather than listening to a speaker
Talking when we should be listening
Hearing what we expect to hear rather
than what is actually said
Not paying attention
(preoccupation, prejudice, selfcenteredness, stereo-type)

Characteristics of poor
listening

Hearing
Focusing on the message
Comprehending and interpreting
Analyzing and Evaluating
Responding
Remembering

Stages of Listening Process

Passive

Active

Inappropriate Non-Verbal signals e.g.

yawning, escaping eye contact,
showing monotony etc.

Non-Verbal excellency like proper eyecontact, gesture and posture

suggesting the curiosity for listening.

Absence of Note Making habit

Proper note making for memorization

Neglects interaction/avoids
questioning

Not only asks valid questions but also

contributes to the existing content.

Vague, ambiguous and bewildered

Precise, leading to a proper conclusion

Active vs. Passive

Listening: Characteristics

Environmental barriers
Physiological barriers
Psychological barriers
Selective Listening
Negative Listening Attitudes
Personal Reactions
Poor Motivation

Barriers to Active
Listening

Thinking about Listening:

Understand the complexities of
listening
Prepare to listen
Adjust to the situation
Focus on ideas or key points
Capitalize on the speed differential
Organize material for learning

How to Be an Effective Listener

Feeling about Listening:

Want to listen
Delay judgment
Admit your biases
Dont tune out dry subjects
Accept responsibility for understanding
Encourage others to talk

How to Be an Effective ListenerCont.

Doing about Listening:

Establish eye contact with the speaker
Take notes effectively
Be a physically involved listener
Avoid negative mannerisms
Ask questions.
Contribute your observation to the existing
deliberation.

How to Be an Effective ListenerCont.

Appreciative
Comprehensive
Empathetic
Critical

Types of Listening

Stop Talking.
Put The Talker At Ease.
Show Him That You Want To Listen.
Remove Distractions.
Empathize With Him.
Be Patient.
Hold Your Temper.
Go Easy On Arguments And Criticism.
Ask Questions.
Stop Talking!

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

KEITH DAVIS

Listening is such a simple act. It requires us to be

present, and that takes practice, but we don't have
to do anything else. We don't have to advise, or
coach, or sound wise. We just have to be willing to
sit there and listen.
Margaret J. Wheatley