Listening Skills

How People Listen:

Active Listening:

Active listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what is being said.

·       Receiving: Hearing the speaker’s words and understanding their literal meaning.

·       Attending: Paying focused attention to the speaker, avoiding distractions.

·       Understanding: Interpreting the speaker’s message in the context of their emotions, intentions, and background.

·       Responding: Providing feedback or reactions that indicate understanding or engagement.

·       Remembering: Retaining the key points of the conversation for future reference or follow-up.

What Prevents Us from Listening Actively?

Distractions

·       External Distractions: Noise, interruptions, or an uncomfortable environment can hinder our ability to focus on the speaker.

·       Internal Distractions: Personal thoughts, stress, or preoccupations can divert attention away from the speaker’s message.

Prejudices and Biases

·       Definition: Preconceived notions or biases about the speaker or the topic can cloud judgment and affect listening.

·       Impact: We may filter or dismiss information based on our existing beliefs rather than objectively processing the message.

Assumptions

·       Definition: Assuming we know what the speaker is going to say or jumping to conclusions before they finish speaking.

·       Impact: This can lead to missing important details or misinterpreting the message.

Lack of Interest

·       Definition: When the topic is not engaging or relevant to the listener.

·       Impact: Reduced motivation to listen attentively, leading to disengagement.

Emotional Barriers

·       Definition: Strong emotions, such as anger, frustration, or anxiety, can interfere with the ability to listen.

·       Impact: Emotional states can distort how we perceive and respond to information.

Poor Listening Habits

·       Interruptions: Frequently interrupting the speaker can disrupt the flow of communication and prevent complete understanding.

·       Judging: Jumping to judgments or critiques while the speaker is still talking can prevent fully comprehending their message.

Lack of Feedback

·       Definition: Not providing feedback or showing signs of engagement can lead to misunderstandings or confusion.

·       Impact: The speaker may feel unheard or misunderstood, which can hinder effective communication.