LEARNING TO LISTEN

COMMUNICATION : KEY FOR PROPER MANAGEMENT OF LIFE

COMMUNICATION MODEL

LISTENING

Three

Quarters of high quality communication involves listening Good listening is the most important skill to have in todays complex world

LISTENING

Listening is the important aspect of effective communication

 Researchers

suggest that most of us are not good listeners. Only half of the oral messages heard in a day are completely understood We listen only 25% of our efficiency. In other words , we ignore or misunderstand 75% of everything we hear

LISTENING AND HEARING

Listening is different from hearing LISTENING Hearing with understanding Active and dynamic process Both body and mind are involved in listening
HEARING Implies just perceiving sounds Passive activity

SKILLS OF ACTIVE LISTENING

L

Look at the speaker Have direct eye contact Inquire Ask probing questions during the conversation why, how which really interest the person

Summarize your understanding Take Notes Encourage the speaker by noding, smiling Neutralize the feeling, stay objective

KEY PRINCIPLES OF ACTIVE LISTENING

Do your honest assessment of listening skills Listen for details when someone is talking to you Take notes in a meeting or attending a lecture Do not talk as much as you listen

KINDS OF LISTENING
Interactive

Selective

Active

Reflective

INEFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Do not learn Preventing opportunity Mind is closed

Preventing intelligence
Nothing new, only reactions are present

BARRIERS TO LISTENING

Bias or prejudice Language differences or accents Noise

Worry, fear, or anger

Lack of attention span

ACTIVE LISTENING

So when you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it. Jiddu Krishnamurti

Active Listening Skills

Go to an appropriate Environment to talkNot in the middle of a noisy gym. Remove All distractions such as the Phone,TV or Radio.

Let the person finish what she is saying before you begin to talkdo not finish sentences for her. Do not offer advice unless it is asked for.

Listen with appropriate Body LanguageNods, hand gestures, etc. Dont yawn or lean backact as if you are interested.

Ask questions to the person. This shows that you have been listening and are interested in what is being said. Ask questions that cannot be answered with one word?

Open ended

? Yes/No

LISTENING SKILLS CONTD.

Be Honest and sincere, but not critical and sarcastic. Remember, people react to what is said as follows

55%

to Facial Expression 38% to tone of voice 7% to words

Sit or stand near the person to whom you are speaking. Maintain Eye Contact

LISTENING SKILLS

Give Appropriate Feedback

Reflective

Listening

Understand the essential connection between concentration and energy- Deep concentration is a matter of increasing or directing your life force or conscious cosmic energy, scattered energy does not help, must be calm,focussed energy. Learn and practice some physical and mental energization techniques

Live life to its fullest, listening is vital!

ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS

Group Juggle The group has to stand in circle, the teacher calls out some one elses name, and passes a soft toy or a ball, to that person, who in turn passes it to another pupil after calling their name. This process continues and everybody gradually becomes alert in order to catch the ball immediately after their names are called out. The element of surprise will make them listen carefully and watch out for their names. This will lead to confusion at first but will help everyone remember and listen carefully for all the names.

To be Continued This is an activity which requires common topic to be given to the group on which one of the students begins to speak on. It could be fun or easy topic at first, followed by difficult ones. The teacher or supervisor can then suddenly stop the person in mid-sentence and ask the person next to the speaker to continue along the lines of the previous speakers last few sentences. This continues for some time and everyone gets a hang of how it works, the supervisor can pick anyone at random to continue speaking. This greatly improves listening and helps everyone to carefully listen to the speaker.

The greatest gift you can give a person is the priority of attention. - Richard More The most important thing in communication is to hear what is not being said.