Listening; Introduction, Techniques & Barriers

Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process.

Excellent listening means more than simply hearing what's been said. It means paying attention and fully understanding the speaker's point of view. 

Good listeners build stronger relationships with those around them because speakers appreciate knowing they successfully transmitted their message. It's beneficial to develop a reputation as a good listener because professionally and privately people will gravitate towards you, sharing confidences and seeking your advice.

Techniques for improving Listening Skills:

• Preparation before listening.
• Listening to understand, not to refute.
• Focusing the attention.
• Taking notes.
• Asking questions.
• No talking
• Avoiding distraction
• Good environmental condition
• Controlling emotion and feelings
• Summary & evaluation.

Barriers to listening

• Prejudice against the speaker.
• External Distraction.
• Thinking speed.
• Premature evaluation.
• Semantic stereotype.
• Language.
• Sluggishness

Determinants of Listening

Listening is an important communication competence that includes complex cognitive processes like understanding and interpreting messages, affective processes like being motivated to pay attention, and behavioral processes like responding with both verbal and nonverbal feedback.

Cognitive characteristics of effective listening

Probing

Paraphrasing                    

Summarizing

Affective characteristics of effective listening

Focusing on attention

Acceptance

Empathy

Behavioral characteristics of effective listening

Non-verbal behavior

Feedback