characteristics of listening

8/13/2019 Characteristics of Listening

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Characteristics of Listening


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Active Listening

Active listening entails grasping the

speakers point of view


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The Active Listening Concept

Listening for Total Meaning

Responding to Feelings Noting All Cues

Concentration

Questioning

Objectivity

Note Taking

Feedback


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1. Listening for Total Meaning

Any message a person attempts to convey

contains two important and meaningfulelements: Content

The attitude or Feeling underlying this content

Example: 1. I have finished the production run.

2. Well , I have finally finished that damned

production run


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2. Responding to Feelings

In some situations the message content is far

less important than the feeling that underliesit.

To interpret the full meaning of the message

accurately, listeners must respond to the

feelings or attitude component.


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3. Noting All Cues

Verbal and nonverbal cues.

Sensitive listening requires n awareness ofseveral levels of communication besides

verbal.

Voice inflection is one factor


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A speaker may stress certain points loudly

and clearly and only mumble others. Theway a speaker hesitates reveals a great deal.

The speakers facial expressions, posture,

hand gestures, eye movements, and

breathing also help to convey the totalmessage.


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Active listeners show their engagement with

the speaker through certain observablebehaviors and mental outcomes.

Mental outcomes of active listening include

comprehending what is being said and being

able later to recall it.


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4. Concentrations

People are motivated to listen in varying

degrees to a variety of messages. From the effective listeners viewpoint,

whatever other individuals wish to

communicate is important.

Effective listeners have to be selfish

What is that speaker saying that I can use?


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Tactics to Maintain Attention

To anticipate what the speaker will say next.

To focus on the message: weighing the speakers

evidence and searching for the speakers deepermeanings, particularly connotative ones, will helpbridge the time gap created by the speech-thoughtdifferential.

To review the previous points: mentally summing upthe major points already covered. Reviewing pointscan help to reinforce the ideas the speaker isexplaining.


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5. Questioning

It serves two purposes:1. It encourages the speaker by demonstrating that

the listening is, indeed, actively listening.

2. It can clarify and develop points, thereby

enhancing the listeners chances of clearly

understanding the speakers message.

3. Probing questions: the listener simply asks

questions that build on a speakers words.


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6. Objectivity

Emotion-laden words

Delivery Unfair Reaction

Distractions

Isolated Facts


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Emotion-laden words

Effective listeners minimize the impact of emotion-laden words. Speaker arouses

an automatic emotional response e.g., reduction in force, strike..

Delivery

Effective listeners judge content not delivery. Listener often distracted by tone ofvoice or pronunciation. Effective listeners focus on what is said not on how

it is communicated.

Unfair Reaction

Effective listeners react fairly and sensibly. wait your turn

Distractions

Effective listeners should not let environmental factors affect their listening. Turn

down stereo or tv that keeps you from hearing

Isolated Facts : detect the central message. Should ask for clarification.


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7. Note Taking

Useful, unnecessary or can be distracting.

If need to refer later to the information in thefuture, notes are probably necessary.


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8. Feedback

Verbal or nonverbal

characteristics of listening

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