LISTENING

One of the components of Empathy

and Social skills of Leadership Quality

Quotation
We have two ears and
only one tongue in order
that we may hear more
and speak less
- Diogenes Laertius (Greek
philosopher)

What do you mean by

Listening
Listening is to pay attention to the
sounds coming into your ears
To concentrate on a sound
To make an effort to hear someone or
something
To pay attention to someone or
something you can hear

IN OTHER WORDS
The process of receiving constructing
meaning from, and responding to
spoken and/or non verbal messages ;
to hear something with thoughtful
attention

SOME POINTS ABOUT IMPORTANCE

OF LISTENING SKILLS
Usually a person who listens properly is able to
react appropriately to a particular Situation or
towards a particular person
Listening is so important that many top employers
provide listening skills training for their employees.
This is not surprising when you consider that good
listening skills can lead to: better customer
satisfaction, greater productivity with fewer
mistakes, increased sharing of information that in
turn can lead to more creative and innovative work.
Many successful leaders and entrepreneurs credit
their success to effective listening skills.

SOME POINTS ABOUT IMPORTANCE

OF LISTENING SKILLS
A greater number of friends and social
networks, improved self-esteem and
confidence, higher grades at school and in
academic work and even better health and
general well-being.
Studies have shown that, whereas speaking
raises blood pressure, attentive listening can
bring it down.

STATISTICS,
FACTS AND
FIGURES ON
LISTENING

Do you know these?

We listen at 125-250 wpm, think at 10003000 wpm
75% of the time we are distracted,
preoccupied or forgetful
20% of the time, we remember what we hear
More than 35% of businesses think listening
is a top skill for success
Less than 2% of people have had formal
education with listening

Facts about Listening and Daily

Communication and Language Skills

Listening: Learned first, Used most (45%), Taught least.

Speaking: Learned second, Used next most (30%), Taught next
least.
Reading: Learned third, Used next least (16%), Taught next most
Writing: Learned fourth, Used Least (9%), Taught most.

Environmental Barriers
The following, if encountered, can make us switch off from what is
being said,
to allow our minds to temporarily concentrate on our surroundings:
1. The room too hot or too
cold
2. The chair
uncomfortable

3. The lighting too bright or too

dim
4. Bad ventilation; stuffy/smoky
atmosphere
5. Noise
7. Sights

6. Smells

Linguistic Barriers
Linguistic barriers derive from the speaker and make it difficult for
them to be listened to. They can be summarized as follows :

1. Jargon or specialist
language

5. Badly organized
material

2. Monotonous
voice
3.
Inappropriate
tone
4. Hesitant
manner

6. Complex sentences
7. Complex vocabulary

8. Delivery too fast

9. Delivery too slow and
ponderous
10. Delivery too loud
11. Delivery too quiet

Psychological Barriers
Emotional states which are brought to the communication or result
from it can come between what is being said and effective listening
and understanding, for example :

1. Anger

2. Own
anxiety

3. Frustration, inability
to put across ideas

4. Status difference
5. Prejudice

Physiological Barriers
The physical condition of the listener can affect concentration and
restrict
the amount of information taken in, for example :

2. Hearing
impairment
3. Tiredness
1. Headache

4. Discomfort, pain,
illness

5. Poor eyesight

Perceptual Barriers
The speaker and the listener sometimes see the same situation from a
different point of view and this can affect understanding (e.g. parent
and child).
Examples of other perceptual barriers are:

Social/cultural background differences

Attitude unexpected
Expectations different
Appearance of speaker
Mannerisms
Accents

Content Barrier
What the speaker is saying may also be a barrier to the listener:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Subject of the discussion does not interest us

Speaker goes on for too long
Speaker is saying what we don't want to hear
We have heard it all before
Content is too difficult/simplistic
Content is repetitious

Personal Barriers
The listener may put up personal barriers:
1.Preoccupied with own problems
3.Looking for every opportunity
to interrupt

2.Thinking about own response

without
hearing speaker

4.Monopolizing the conversation,

dominant speaking

7 Ways to Improve Your

Listening
Here are 7 strategies and suggestions to
help you improve your listening skills.
1.) Increase your listening span:
Try to resist the temptation to interrupt.
Make sure the speaker has had a complete chance to
make his or her point before you speak.
If you don't get the whole message, ask the speaker to
repeat what they said.

Ways to Improve Your

Listening
2.) Take time to listen:
Don't put obvious limitations on your
listening time - the speaker will feel
rushed.

3.) Listen between the lines:

Don't just listen to what is being said.
Try to understand the attitudes, needs
and motives behind the words.

Ways to Improve Your

Listening
4.) Give your full attention:
Nodding or interjecting occasionally to
clarify a point lets the speaker know you
are interested.
If the speaker pauses briefly, don't rush
to fill the silence.
Use open-ended questions to encourage
elaboration.

Ways to Improve Your

Listening
5.) Restate the message:
When you are sure that the speaker has
finished, restate the main points.
This is a good organizing strategy for
you.
It also gives the speaker assurance that
the message has been received.

Ways to Improve Your

Listening
6.) Listen for ideas as well as facts:
A good listener makes an effort to understand
what the facts add up to.

7.) Don't monopolize:

Resist the urge to dominate a situation or to
feel that you know everything about a
situation.
Be open to new ideas and allow the speaker to
have his or her say.