{"id":362,"date":"2015-01-28T21:34:38","date_gmt":"2015-01-28T21:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/englishforbusiness\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=362"},"modified":"2015-02-06T19:44:11","modified_gmt":"2015-02-06T19:44:11","slug":"3-5-listening-and-reading-for-understanding","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/chapter\/3-5-listening-and-reading-for-understanding\/","title":{"raw":"Listening and Reading for Understanding","rendered":"Listening and Reading for Understanding"},"content":{"raw":"&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\r\n<h3>LEARNING OBJECTIVE<\/h3>\r\nBy the end of this section, you will be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Explain the importance of becoming an active listener and reader.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"mclean-ch03_s05_n01\" class=\"im_learning_objectives im_editable im_block\">\r\n<p class=\"im_title\">As the popular author and Hollywood entrepreneur Wilson Mizner said, \u201cA good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he knows something.\u201d Learning to listen to your conversational partner, customer, supplier, or supervisor is an important part of business communication. Too often, instead of listening we mentally rehearse what we want to say. Similarly, when we read, we are often trying to multitask and therefore cannot read with full attention. Inattentive listening or reading can cause us to miss much of what the speaker is sharing with us.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nCommunication involves the sharing and understanding of meaning. To fully share and understand, practice <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">active listening and reading<\/span><\/span> so that you are fully attentive, fully present in the moment of interaction. Pay attention to both the actual words and for other clues to meaning, such as tone of voice or writing style. Look for opportunities for clarification and feedback when the time comes for you to respond, not before.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2>Active Listening and Reading<\/h2>\r\nYou\u2019ve probably experienced the odd sensation of driving somewhere and, having arrived, have realized you don\u2019t remember driving. Your mind may have been filled with other issues and you drove on autopilot. It\u2019s dangerous when you drive like that, and it is dangerous in communication. Choosing to listen or read attentively takes effort. People communicate with words, expressions, and even in silence, and your attention to them will make you a better communicator. From discussions on improving customer service to retaining customers in challenging economic times, the importance of listening comes up frequently as a success strategy.\r\n\r\nHere are some tips to facilitate active listening and reading:\r\n<ul id=\"mclean-ch03_s05_s01_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\r\n\t<li>Maintain eye contact with the speaker; if reading, keep your eyes on the page.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Don\u2019t interrupt; if reading, don\u2019t multitask.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Focus your attention on the message, not your internal monologue.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Restate the message in your own words and ask if you understood correctly.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Ask clarifying questions to communicate interest and gain insight.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2>When the Going Gets Tough<\/h2>\r\nOur previous tips will serve you well in daily interactions, but suppose you have an especially difficult subject to discuss, or you receive a written document delivering bad news. In a difficult situation like this, it is worth taking extra effort to create an environment and context that will facilitate positive communication.\r\n\r\nHere are some tips that may be helpful:\r\n<ul id=\"mclean-ch03_s05_s02_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Set aside a special time<\/strong>. To have a difficult conversation or read bad news, set aside a special time when you will not be disturbed. Close the door and turn off the TV, music player, and instant messaging client.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Don\u2019t interrupt<\/strong>. Keep silent while you let the other person \u201cspeak his piece.\u201d If you are reading, make an effort to understand and digest the news without mental interruptions.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Be nonjudgmental<\/strong>. Receive the message without judgment or criticism. Set aside your opinions, attitudes, and beliefs.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Be accepting<\/strong>. Be open to the message being communicated, realizing that acceptance does not necessarily mean you agree with what is being said.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Take turns<\/strong>. Wait until it is your turn to respond, and then measure your response in proportion to the message that was delivered to you. Reciprocal turn-taking allows each person have his say.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Acknowledge<\/strong>. Let the other person know that you have listened to the message or read it attentively.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Understand<\/strong>. Be certain that you understand what your partner is saying. If you don\u2019t understand, ask for clarification. Restate the message in your own words.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Keep your cool<\/strong>. Speak your truth without blaming. A calm tone will help prevent the conflict from escalating. Use \u201cI\u201d statements (e.g., \u201cI felt concerned when I learned that my department is going to have a layoff\u201d) rather than \u201cyou\u201d statements (e.g., \u201cyou want to get rid of some of our best people\u201d).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nFinally, recognize that mutual respect and understanding are built one conversation at a time. Trust is difficult to gain and easy to lose. Be patient and keep the channels of communication open, as a solution may develop slowly over the course of many small interactions. Recognize that it is more valuable to maintain the relationship over the long term than to \u201cwin\u201d in an individual transaction.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-success\">\r\n<h3>Key Takeaway<\/h3>\r\n<section>\r\n<div data-type=\"note\">\r\n\r\nPart of being an effective communicator is learning to receive messages from others through active listening and reading.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-info\">\r\n<h3>Exercises<\/h3>\r\n1. Pair up with a classmate and do a role-play exercise in which one person tries to deliver a message while the other person multitasks and interrupts. Then try it again while the listener practices active listening. How do the two communication experiences compare? Discuss your findings.\r\n\r\n2. Select a news article and practice active reading by reading the article and summarizing each of its main points in your own words. Write a letter to the editor commenting on the article\u2014you don\u2019t have to send it, but you may if you wish.\r\n\r\n3. In a half-hour period of time, see if you can count how many times you are interrupted. Share and compare with your classmates.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\n<h3>LEARNING OBJECTIVE<\/h3>\n<p>By the end of this section, you will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Explain the importance of becoming an active listener and reader.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"mclean-ch03_s05_n01\" class=\"im_learning_objectives im_editable im_block\">\n<p class=\"im_title\">As the popular author and Hollywood entrepreneur Wilson Mizner said, \u201cA good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he knows something.\u201d Learning to listen to your conversational partner, customer, supplier, or supervisor is an important part of business communication. Too often, instead of listening we mentally rehearse what we want to say. Similarly, when we read, we are often trying to multitask and therefore cannot read with full attention. Inattentive listening or reading can cause us to miss much of what the speaker is sharing with us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Communication involves the sharing and understanding of meaning. To fully share and understand, practice <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">active listening and reading<\/span><\/span> so that you are fully attentive, fully present in the moment of interaction. Pay attention to both the actual words and for other clues to meaning, such as tone of voice or writing style. Look for opportunities for clarification and feedback when the time comes for you to respond, not before.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2>Active Listening and Reading<\/h2>\n<p>You\u2019ve probably experienced the odd sensation of driving somewhere and, having arrived, have realized you don\u2019t remember driving. Your mind may have been filled with other issues and you drove on autopilot. It\u2019s dangerous when you drive like that, and it is dangerous in communication. Choosing to listen or read attentively takes effort. People communicate with words, expressions, and even in silence, and your attention to them will make you a better communicator. From discussions on improving customer service to retaining customers in challenging economic times, the importance of listening comes up frequently as a success strategy.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some tips to facilitate active listening and reading:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"mclean-ch03_s05_s01_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\n<li>Maintain eye contact with the speaker; if reading, keep your eyes on the page.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t interrupt; if reading, don\u2019t multitask.<\/li>\n<li>Focus your attention on the message, not your internal monologue.<\/li>\n<li>Restate the message in your own words and ask if you understood correctly.<\/li>\n<li>Ask clarifying questions to communicate interest and gain insight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2>When the Going Gets Tough<\/h2>\n<p>Our previous tips will serve you well in daily interactions, but suppose you have an especially difficult subject to discuss, or you receive a written document delivering bad news. In a difficult situation like this, it is worth taking extra effort to create an environment and context that will facilitate positive communication.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some tips that may be helpful:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"mclean-ch03_s05_s02_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Set aside a special time<\/strong>. To have a difficult conversation or read bad news, set aside a special time when you will not be disturbed. Close the door and turn off the TV, music player, and instant messaging client.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Don\u2019t interrupt<\/strong>. Keep silent while you let the other person \u201cspeak his piece.\u201d If you are reading, make an effort to understand and digest the news without mental interruptions.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Be nonjudgmental<\/strong>. Receive the message without judgment or criticism. Set aside your opinions, attitudes, and beliefs.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Be accepting<\/strong>. Be open to the message being communicated, realizing that acceptance does not necessarily mean you agree with what is being said.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Take turns<\/strong>. Wait until it is your turn to respond, and then measure your response in proportion to the message that was delivered to you. Reciprocal turn-taking allows each person have his say.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Acknowledge<\/strong>. Let the other person know that you have listened to the message or read it attentively.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Understand<\/strong>. Be certain that you understand what your partner is saying. If you don\u2019t understand, ask for clarification. Restate the message in your own words.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Keep your cool<\/strong>. Speak your truth without blaming. A calm tone will help prevent the conflict from escalating. Use \u201cI\u201d statements (e.g., \u201cI felt concerned when I learned that my department is going to have a layoff\u201d) rather than \u201cyou\u201d statements (e.g., \u201cyou want to get rid of some of our best people\u201d).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Finally, recognize that mutual respect and understanding are built one conversation at a time. Trust is difficult to gain and easy to lose. Be patient and keep the channels of communication open, as a solution may develop slowly over the course of many small interactions. Recognize that it is more valuable to maintain the relationship over the long term than to \u201cwin\u201d in an individual transaction.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-success\">\n<h3>Key Takeaway<\/h3>\n<section>\n<div data-type=\"note\">\n<p>Part of being an effective communicator is learning to receive messages from others through active listening and reading.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"im_title\"><\/h3>\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-info\">\n<h3>Exercises<\/h3>\n<p>1. Pair up with a classmate and do a role-play exercise in which one person tries to deliver a message while the other person multitasks and interrupts. Then try it again while the listener practices active listening. How do the two communication experiences compare? Discuss your findings.<\/p>\n<p>2. Select a news article and practice active reading by reading the article and summarizing each of its main points in your own words. Write a letter to the editor commenting on the article\u2014you don\u2019t have to send it, but you may if you wish.<\/p>\n<p>3. In a half-hour period of time, see if you can count how many times you are interrupted. Share and compare with your classmates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-362\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Communication for Business Success. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Anonymous. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Anonymous. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/books\/communication-for-business-success\/\">http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/books\/communication-for-business-success\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":277,"menu_order":6,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Communication for Business Success\",\"author\":\"Anonymous\",\"organization\":\"Anonymous\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/books\/communication-for-business-success\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-362","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":365,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/277"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":818,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/362\/revisions\/818"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/365"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/362\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=362"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=362"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}