{"id":2153,"date":"2018-03-06T21:05:10","date_gmt":"2018-03-06T21:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=2153"},"modified":"2024-05-08T18:47:24","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T18:47:24","slug":"listening","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/chapter\/listening\/","title":{"raw":"Listening","rendered":"Listening"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Discuss the importance of listening<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4609\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"301\"]<img class=\"wp-image-4609\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2785\/2018\/03\/05224749\/rawpixel-682403-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A man speaking to a woman, who is focused on listening.\" width=\"301\" height=\"200\" \/> Figure 1. Listening is a key component of communication.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nHow many times have you wanted to talk about a subject very important to you only to find that the people you\u2019re talking to aren't really listening? They may look like they're listening, but they're really not paying attention at all. Frustrating, isn\u2019t it? How often do you find yourself falling into this same trap, finding that you're so eager to share your information that you completely stop listening to the person who's talking?\r\n\r\nCommunication isn\u2019t just about talking, it\u2019s about listening. In fact, communication only happens when all parties are engaged in uncovering and understanding the meaning behind the words. Otherwise, it\u2019s just a bunch of chatter!\r\n<h2>Active Listening<\/h2>\r\nDuring active listening, listeners give feedback to the speaker, confirming an understanding of what the speaker has said by asking questions and making clarifying statements. Rather than focusing on what they want to say once it's their turn to speak or allowing themselves to be distracted, they're reassuring the speaker that they're interested in the subject matter and want to completely understand the point the speaker is trying to make. It\u2019s the ultimate way of making a fellow participant feel safe in the conversation.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4616\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\"]<img class=\"wp-image-4616\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2785\/2018\/03\/06165526\/activelisteningskills.png\" alt=\"Five icons representing skills that aid in active listening. The first skill is to pay close attention, which is represented by an eyeball. The second skill is to paraphrase, which is represented by an icon of a bulleted list. The third skill is to give good body cues, which is represented by an icon of a person touching their chin in thought. The fourth skill is to minimize distractions, which is represented by an icon of a computer with a power off symbol on the screen. The fifth and final skill is to keep yourself out of the conversation, which is represented by an icon of a person's silhouette. \" width=\"550\" height=\"414\" \/> Figure 2. Five key skills for active listening[\/caption]\r\n\r\nHere are some key skills you should master in order to be an active listener:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Pay close attention and paraphrase to ensure understanding:<\/strong> If you can step into the conversation by saying, \u201cSo let me see if I understand this correctly. What you\u2019re saying is\u2026.\u201d then you\u2019re listening hard enough. If you\u2019re saying, \u201cUh-huh, uh-huh,\u201d but not really recapping a set of statements, then try listening a little harder.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Ask open ended questions:<\/strong> These questions can encourage the speaker to elaborate on a point, rather than forcing them to say yes or no. For example, instead of asking a yes or no question, you can try a what, why, or how question. Therefore the speaker can provide an elaborated response that can help you understand better what they are trying to communicate.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Give good body cues:<\/strong> Make eye contact, lean in while the speaker is talking, and don\u2019t let your gaze drift away. If you\u2019re leaning back in a chair reading what\u2019s on your computer monitor, the speaker isn\u2019t going to feel like you\u2019re paying attention even if you are. You can also use body cues to reflect the speaker\u2019s emotions\u2014you don\u2019t have to laugh or cry along, but you can indicate a level of understanding with a facial expression or a nod.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Minimize distractions:<\/strong> Turn off your radio or push your monitor in another direction in order to pay closer attention to what your guest has to say. When someone is talking to you, do your best to minimize anything that could steal your attention away from the conversation.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Keep yourself out of the conversation:<\/strong> Avoid sharing how you handled a similar issue, unless you\u2019re specifically asked for advice. Keep an open mind about the subject matter, even if you don\u2019t agree. If someone is complaining about your previous behavior or choices, wait until he or she is done before you launch into a defense. Better yet, don\u2019t launch into a defense. Instead, ask clarifying questions and make sure that you totally understand the other person\u2019s point of view before crafting your response.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Practice question<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/63413253-f1a7-4f6c-b043-bf2d1275d366\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nThose are just a few techniques you can use to become a better listener, but there are also a few ways to ensure that you\u2019re heard. Take those same hints for active listening and turn them around a bit:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Help your audience by paraphrasing:<\/strong> If no one in your audience is being kind enough to break in to clarify his understanding of your point, then do it for them! Pause mid-point and say, \u201cLet me stop here for a moment. Am I being clear about what I\u2019m trying to say? Is there anything up to this point that you\u2019d like me to go over again?\u201d By posing these questions, you\u2019re encouraging your audience to participate in active listening.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Minimize things that could be distracting during your conversation:<\/strong> Don\u2019t be afraid to ask your audience to turn off the television for a moment while you make an important point.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Keep your audience out of the conversation:<\/strong> In much the same way you kept yourself out of the conversation when someone else was talking, don\u2019t invite them to share their own personal stories. It distracts from the point you\u2019re trying to make.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nWithout listening, there is no understanding. By listening, you can assess your audience\u2019s needs and address them. By ensuring that you\u2019re heard, you can deliver business results.","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Discuss the importance of listening<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_4609\" style=\"width: 311px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4609\" class=\"wp-image-4609\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2785\/2018\/03\/05224749\/rawpixel-682403-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A man speaking to a woman, who is focused on listening.\" width=\"301\" height=\"200\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-4609\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 1. Listening is a key component of communication.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>How many times have you wanted to talk about a subject very important to you only to find that the people you\u2019re talking to aren&#8217;t really listening? They may look like they&#8217;re listening, but they&#8217;re really not paying attention at all. Frustrating, isn\u2019t it? How often do you find yourself falling into this same trap, finding that you&#8217;re so eager to share your information that you completely stop listening to the person who&#8217;s talking?<\/p>\n<p>Communication isn\u2019t just about talking, it\u2019s about listening. In fact, communication only happens when all parties are engaged in uncovering and understanding the meaning behind the words. Otherwise, it\u2019s just a bunch of chatter!<\/p>\n<h2>Active Listening<\/h2>\n<p>During active listening, listeners give feedback to the speaker, confirming an understanding of what the speaker has said by asking questions and making clarifying statements. Rather than focusing on what they want to say once it&#8217;s their turn to speak or allowing themselves to be distracted, they&#8217;re reassuring the speaker that they&#8217;re interested in the subject matter and want to completely understand the point the speaker is trying to make. It\u2019s the ultimate way of making a fellow participant feel safe in the conversation.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4616\" style=\"width: 560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4616\" class=\"wp-image-4616\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2785\/2018\/03\/06165526\/activelisteningskills.png\" alt=\"Five icons representing skills that aid in active listening. The first skill is to pay close attention, which is represented by an eyeball. The second skill is to paraphrase, which is represented by an icon of a bulleted list. The third skill is to give good body cues, which is represented by an icon of a person touching their chin in thought. The fourth skill is to minimize distractions, which is represented by an icon of a computer with a power off symbol on the screen. The fifth and final skill is to keep yourself out of the conversation, which is represented by an icon of a person's silhouette.\" width=\"550\" height=\"414\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-4616\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 2. Five key skills for active listening<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Here are some key skills you should master in order to be an active listener:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Pay close attention and paraphrase to ensure understanding:<\/strong> If you can step into the conversation by saying, \u201cSo let me see if I understand this correctly. What you\u2019re saying is\u2026.\u201d then you\u2019re listening hard enough. If you\u2019re saying, \u201cUh-huh, uh-huh,\u201d but not really recapping a set of statements, then try listening a little harder.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ask open ended questions:<\/strong> These questions can encourage the speaker to elaborate on a point, rather than forcing them to say yes or no. For example, instead of asking a yes or no question, you can try a what, why, or how question. Therefore the speaker can provide an elaborated response that can help you understand better what they are trying to communicate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Give good body cues:<\/strong> Make eye contact, lean in while the speaker is talking, and don\u2019t let your gaze drift away. If you\u2019re leaning back in a chair reading what\u2019s on your computer monitor, the speaker isn\u2019t going to feel like you\u2019re paying attention even if you are. You can also use body cues to reflect the speaker\u2019s emotions\u2014you don\u2019t have to laugh or cry along, but you can indicate a level of understanding with a facial expression or a nod.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Minimize distractions:<\/strong> Turn off your radio or push your monitor in another direction in order to pay closer attention to what your guest has to say. When someone is talking to you, do your best to minimize anything that could steal your attention away from the conversation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep yourself out of the conversation:<\/strong> Avoid sharing how you handled a similar issue, unless you\u2019re specifically asked for advice. Keep an open mind about the subject matter, even if you don\u2019t agree. If someone is complaining about your previous behavior or choices, wait until he or she is done before you launch into a defense. Better yet, don\u2019t launch into a defense. Instead, ask clarifying questions and make sure that you totally understand the other person\u2019s point of view before crafting your response.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Practice question<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_63413253-f1a7-4f6c-b043-bf2d1275d366\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/63413253-f1a7-4f6c-b043-bf2d1275d366?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_63413253-f1a7-4f6c-b043-bf2d1275d366\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Those are just a few techniques you can use to become a better listener, but there are also a few ways to ensure that you\u2019re heard. Take those same hints for active listening and turn them around a bit:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Help your audience by paraphrasing:<\/strong> If no one in your audience is being kind enough to break in to clarify his understanding of your point, then do it for them! Pause mid-point and say, \u201cLet me stop here for a moment. Am I being clear about what I\u2019m trying to say? Is there anything up to this point that you\u2019d like me to go over again?\u201d By posing these questions, you\u2019re encouraging your audience to participate in active listening.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Minimize things that could be distracting during your conversation:<\/strong> Don\u2019t be afraid to ask your audience to turn off the television for a moment while you make an important point.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep your audience out of the conversation:<\/strong> In much the same way you kept yourself out of the conversation when someone else was talking, don\u2019t invite them to share their own personal stories. It distracts from the point you\u2019re trying to make.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Without listening, there is no understanding. By listening, you can assess your audience\u2019s needs and address them. By ensuring that you\u2019re heard, you can deliver business results.<\/p>\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-2153\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Listening. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Freedom Learning Group. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Five key skills for active listening image. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Woman, teamwork image. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: rawpixel. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Unsplash. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/g8bqFDerlLA\">https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/g8bqFDerlLA<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/cc0\">CC0: No Rights Reserved<\/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":17,"menu_order":7,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Listening\",\"author\":\"Freedom Learning Group\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Woman, teamwork image\",\"author\":\"rawpixel\",\"organization\":\"Unsplash\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/g8bqFDerlLA\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc0\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Five key skills for active listening image\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"907df603-04fd-4308-8627-b23514f08a63, 0e0052c0-d379-4dc7-bc24-a20b00af4f42","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-2153","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/2153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/2153\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8080,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/2153\/revisions\/8080"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/2153\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=2153"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=2153"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-businesscommunicationmgrs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=2153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}