☻ Listening is an active,
voluntary, and concentrated task that demands full attention. It's something we choose
to do consciously. Real listening begins when we receive information and concludes
with a suitable response. (While hearing is a passive, involuntary, and
physiological process. e.g., background noise).
☻ Listening is the initial step in communication. It is paving the way for speaking, reading, and writing. As a good listener, we should always be open-minded and heart-free from any emotion. If our mind is closed to the other person's messages there will not be effective listening.
Importance of Listening Skills:
☻ Effective listening helps in the workplace to better understand, build trust with people, conflict resolution, enhance collaboration and decision-making ability, and improve learning by processing new information efficiently.
Process
of Effective Listening:
There are five steps in the listening process.
1) Receiving: It is the intentional focus on learning the
speaker’s message. It filters out other confusing messages.
2) Understanding: The Listener attempts to learn the
meaning of the message. The listener’s knowledge level, experiences, and
perception influence his understanding.
3) Remembering: What has been understood is processed
meaningfully and put into memory for future use.
4) Evaluating: The value or sense of the message received
is judged. The same message may seem valuable or purposeless depending on the listeners’
experiences.
5) Responding: Feedback on what has been received. This indicates
the listener’s involvement in the conversation.
Barriers to effective Listening:
☻
Physical Barriers: Noise, hearing deficiencies, physical
distractions, and Vocabulary
☻ Psychological
Barriers: Prejudgement, biases, assumptions, emotion, and mental exhaustion.
Difference between hearing and listening? While both use your ears.
|
► Hearing refers to
perceiving sounds, by receiving vibrations through the ears. ► It is a passive
bodily process. ► It is an ability,
Primary nature, and continuous. ► Physiological
activity, receiving messages through the ears. ► Concentration is
not required, Occurs at the Subconscious level. ► We are neither
aware of nor have any control over the sounds we hear. |
► Listening is done
consciously, it involves the analysis and understanding of the sounds you
hear. ► It is an active
mental process. ► It is a skill,
Secondary nature and temporary. ► Physiological
activity, here receives message through the ears but is interpreted by the
mind. ► Concentration
required, Occurs at the Conscious level ► We listen to
acquire knowledge and receive information. |
