ART OF LISTENING

1. ART OF LISTENING

2. LISTENING • “Nature gave humans two ears but only one tongue, which is a gentle hint that they should listen more than they talk.” • Robert Frost says: “Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and cant, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it”.

3. LISTENING • It is the ability to understand and respond effectively to oral communication. • The basic principle of effective listening is that unless the listener pays attention, has concentration, and is seriously concerned with the subject, he cannot understand the message of the speech.

4. Listening is a conscious, positive act requiring will power. • Active listening is “to listen to a person without passing judgment on what is being said, and to mirror back what has been said to indicate that you understood what feelings the speaker was putting across.”

5. HEARING vs. LISTENING • Hearing is picking up sound vibrations, whereas listening is making a sense or meaning out of what people hear. • Hearing is a physical process, and listening a mental one. • Hearing is passive, listening is active. • Hearing is with the mind, and listening is with ears.

6. NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING: • Listening is an art, a fine art. A patient and attentive listening is a compliment to the speaker. • is the kingpin in the entire communication process, to whom actually the message is meant to understand, interpret correctly and to act accordingly. • Effective and true communication is greatly dependent on the receptive side.

7. Clear listening is necessary when information is transmitted. Poor listening may lead to gaps, conflicts and resentment. • It requires patience, presence of mind, interest and attitude. • Listening is not a trait, but a skill, which can be taught, trained and improved.

8. Reasons for poor listening: • Lack of clarity • Jargon • Lack of unity • Speed • Distractions

9. COMMON FAULTS OF LISTENING: • Prejudice against the speaker • Rehearsing • Judging negatively • Identifying • Advising • Sparring or Rebuttal instinct • Being right

10. Derailing • Placate • Dreaming or Wandering mind • Thinking speed • Premature evaluation • Semantic stereotypes • Delivery • External distractions

11. BARRIERS IN LISTENING: • Distractions of mind • Lack of motivation • Jumbled and mumbled words • Listening only for words • Taking notes • False listening or Pseudo Listening • Monologue attitude

12. Selective listening • Listening defensively • Deaf spots or emotional blocks • Closed mindedness • Lack of interest

13. BAD LISTENING HABITS: • Calling the subject uninteresting • Tuning the speaker out because of his delivery • Getting over stimulated • Faking attentiveness • Allowing distractions to creep in • Tuning out difficult or technical presentations

14. BEHAVIOURAL REASONS: • Listening attitudes in early life • Influence of parental models • Powerless and submissive behavior • Defense mechanism • Practice of resistance

15. ERRORS IMPEDING UNDERSTANDING: • Length of message • Middle of the message • Round off • Hearing what one expects to hear • Filtered listening

16. WHO IS A GOOD LISTENER? • Looks at the speaker while he is speaking • Seeks clarifications by asking questions • Repeats some of the things • Does not rush • Has poise and is emotionally controlled • Reacts with a nod, a frown or a smile • Does not interrupt • Pays close attention

17. PRINCIPLES FOR GOOD LISTENING: • Listen patiently • Understanding speaker’s feeling • Restatement and summary • Avoid expressing views • Less explanation • Rapport

18. GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE LISTENING: • Eye contact • Bodily exhibitions • Avoid distracting actions or gestures • Ask questions • Paraphrase • Avoid interpreting speaker • Do not overtake • Put the speaker at ease

19. Listen patiently • Avoid premature arguments • Stay objective • Avoid mental rebuttals • Remove distractions • Indicate acceptance • Hold your temper • Respect pauses or silence

20. Be honest with answer • Listen between the lines • Have an open mind • Listen to total meaning • Observe non verbal cues • Avoid fake attention • No personal bias

21. TYPES OF LISTENING: • Marginal listening- listener has capacity to listen four times faster than someone can talk. So they use the extra time available to think about other matters. • Evaluative listening- while listening to a message, they spare time and think to judge and evaluate what is said by speaker, and sometimes forms rebuttals to it.

22. Projective listening- it is a process to observe and understand what is said and to assimilate the viewpoint of the speaker. • Active listening- also called emphatic listening. It consists of without passing judgment and to mirror back on what is being said. • Passive listening

23. Deliberate listening- when it is intended to comprehend the content of the message and to understand the feeling and context in which the communication is taking place. • Fake listening- fixing their eyes on the speaker and try to project themselves as good listeners. They usually miss important points.

24. LISTENING PROCESS • Awareness: it involves getting the attention of the audience so that they will listen. Listeners should: • Look for area of interest • Look for benefits, a need fulfillment or an objective • Look for new ideas • Note non verbal cues

25. Reception: it is physical hearing with attention that precedes listening. Sound waves receive the attention of the listener for interpretation and perception. To be receptive: • Concentrate on ideas • Non verbal cues • Avoid mind wandering • Adjusting listening pace

26. Perception: is the perceiving and understanding of the message. Depends upon factors like knowledge, age, emotion, experience, attitude, values, etc. The act of perception depends upon interpretation – the process of attribution of meanings which requires logical reasoning and analysis of data.

27. TYPES OF LISTENERS: • The Sleeper: • has no intention of listening • Is irritated if there are disturbances • Eyes are closed as he sits, or reclines in his seat. • Seeks a restful haven in a relatively corner place.

28. 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 or she is.

29. The Tiger: • Is ready to pounce on everything what speaker says • Is occupied with looking for trouble • Has a crouching position, leaning forward and eyes flashing

30. The Shy, Bewildered: • Has never quite found out what the lecture is all about • Pained, quizzical glances from him are a constant reminder to the speaker that he has to go slowly, repeating and reinforcing information.

31. The Frowner: • His forehead has a perpetual furrow • He seems to be always on the verge of a question • His expression is an accurate reflection of his state of mind

32. The Relaxed: • Stares fixedly at some object or person • There is little tension in them • There are no visible means of reading them • Never seems to react to anything • Is a real problem for the speaker

33. The Busy bee: • Listens and impresses by writing notes, talking to neighbors, combing hair, etc. • Not a listener in a true sense, but is a potential audience • Will motivate the speaker causing him to try various devices to capture their attention

34. Two eared listener: • Listens with ears and mind • Actively participates • Reacts objectively • Decodes and evaluates carefully • Eagerness is reflected in body posture • Face reflects agreement, disagreement, interest, question, approval resulting from thoughtful, objective consideration of messages.