Evaluating listening habits

For each of the following statements select the answer that best describes your listening habits-Usually,Sometimes,Seldom

1. I maintain eye-contact with the speaker.2. I determine whether or not speakers ideas are worth

while solely by their appearance and delivery.3. I try to understand the message from the speakers point

of view.4. I listen for specific facts rather than the big picture.5. I listen for factual content and the emotion behind the

literal words.

Evaluating Listening habits

6.I ask questions for clarification and understanding.

7.I withhold judgment of what speakers are saying until they have finished.

8. I make a conscious effort to evaluate the logic and consistency of what is being said.

9. While listening, I think about what I am going to say as soon as I have my chance.

10.I try to have the last word.

Scoring

• For statements 1,3,5,6,7,8

3 points for Usually

2 points for Sometimes

1 point for Seldom.

• For statements

2,4,9,10

3 points for Seldom

2 points for Sometimes

1 point for Usually

Listening and its types

• Marginal Listening-Paying attention to matters other than being spoken by the speaker.

• Evaluative listening-It traps a listener into the temptation of passing hasty judgments or unfounded evaluations about the speaker.Such a listener fails to get into the speakers’ frame of reference and understand an idea from the speakers point of view.

Types of listeningActive/empathic listening-A good listener is an empathic listener.• Pays close attention to what the speaker says• interferes very little•Uses encouraging nods and words of appreciation

•Is willing to listen completely

Different stages in listening

1.Sensing/selecting stage.The listener selects from many stimuli only the one that seems important at that point in time and converts it into a message.

2.Interpreting Stage.The listener is engaged in the act of decoding the message.It is at this stage that the listener is faced with many kinds of barriers.

3.Evaluating Stage.A great deal of critical listening takes place at this stage .The listener assigns meanings to the message,draw inferences,takes an overview of the message.

Different stages in listening

4.Responding Stage. Listener is ready to respond.This is the feedback stage which is important to the speaker.The listener’s non verbal signals tell the speaker whether the message has been understood or not.

5.Memory Stage. Effective listening helps listeners retain chunks of what they have listened.Unfortunately, no matter how brilliant a speaker is,most listeners can retain only 25-40 %.That is why good speakers always make it a point to organize their matter sequentially supported by audio visuals or other supplementary material.

Listening Barriers

• Psychological barriers

• Environmental distractions

• Emotional/personal barriers

• Linguistic barriers

• Socio-Cultural barriers

Psychological Barriers Prejudgment/hasty evaluation Superficial frame of reference Closed mindedness Inability to pay attention Prejudice/envy/jealousy/dislike/hatred Ego involvement The urge to debate or advise

Environmental Distractions

• Physical Distractions

• Loud Talking

• Visual Barriers

Emotional /Personal Barriers

• Beliefs and Attitudes

• Sad memories

• Fear

• Anxiety

• Anger

Linguistic/Semantic Barriers

• Speaker's style of speaking

• Difficult words and use of jargon

• Lag time

• Mispronounced words or words with more than one meaning

Socio-Cultural Barriers

• Different cultural Background

• Personal Space and public space

• Sense of time

Increasing listening efficiency

• Concentrate-Focus your attention on what the speaker is saying.

• Acknowledge-Appreciative body language without faking• Research-Review periodically what the speaker has said

until now.

• Exercise control-Restrain your impatience.

• Sense the non-verbal message• Structure-put the message in order.

Body language of a good listener

• Attentive face• A closed mouth smile and direct eye contact

• No distracting body gestures .• Occasional head nods in appreciation of what is

being said by the speaker.• Paraphrases using his/her own words.• Avoids interrupting the speaker• Asks appropriate questions.

Types of listeners

• The Sleeper-seeks a restful haven in a quiet hall,no intention of listening,irritated if the sleep is disturbed,reclines in the seat ready to go off to sleep,his face reflects his state of blissful sleep.

• Eager Beaver-keeps smiling and nodding,eyes have a strange out of focus appearance,energies are directed to impress the speaker with what a good listener he is-a real waste!

Types of listeners• The Tiger-ready to pounce on everything the

speaker says,occupied with looking for trouble,has a crouching position,leaning forward,eyes flashing with the alertness of a big cat,silently growls when he hears something he does not agree with.

• The shy ,bewildered-has never been able to find out what the lecture is all about,Confused,pained glances from him are a constant reminder to the speaker that he must go slow…very slow!

Types of listeners

• The frowner-forehead has a perpetual furrow,seems always on the verge of a question,fakes attention .

• The Relaxed-seems to stay awake but slips down in his chair resting his head on the back,stares fixedly at some object or person,little tension,never seems to react to anything,a real problem for the speaker.

Types of listeners

• Busy bee-listens and impresses by writing notes,buzzing with neighbours,sneaking glances at magazines,cleaning fingernails,combing hair and so on.A potential auditor in the audience,tries various devices to capture the speakers’ attention.

• Two-Eared listener-Listens with ears and mind,actively participates,reacts objectively,decodes and evaluates carefully,right body language,a model for all to follow.

Thanx! …..for listening!