Page 44 - DENG101_Communication Skills-I

Unit 4: Listening Skills

4.6 Traits of a Good Listener Notes

A good listener:

1. Waits for the opportunities: ask “what’s in it for me?”
2. Judges content skips over delivery, errors.
3. Doesn’t judge until comprehension complete?
4. Listens for central themes

5. Takes fewer notes and uses four to five different systems, depending on the speaker
6. Works hard, exhibits active body state
7. Fights or avoids distractions, tolerates bad habits, knows how to concentrate.
8. Uses heavier material as exercise of the mind
9. Interprets emotion laden words; does not get hung up of them.

10. Challenge, anticipates, mentally summarize, weighs the evidence, listens between the lines
to tone of voice.

Task Listen to the jingles of some commercials and try to remember them. Later, recall
those jingles and name the brand/commercial in which they were used.

4.7 Summary

z Listening is not the simple ability to decode information. It is a two-way exchange in which
both parties involved must always be receptive to the thoughts, ideas, and emotions of the
other.
z There are different types of listening. They are: Attentive listening, pretending listening,
emphatic, selective, intuitive and listening for mutual creativity.

z The process of listening consists of three steps: Selection, reception and symbol.
z Listening is a major ingredient of the communication process, and the lack of this skill is
primarily responsible for many of the problems we experience with people.

z Effective listening is one of the critical skills related to effective communication. It requires
more than merely hearing the speaker. It requires grasping and understanding.
z A good listener listens to understand what is meant, not to get ready to reply, contradict, or
refute. This is extremely important as a general attitude. Active listening is understanding
without judgment. It is more than listening to the content of the message, it is also trying to
understand what is behind the content.
4.8 Keywords

Attentive Listening: The practice of paying close attention to a speaker
Empathic listening: A way of listening and responding to another person that improves mutual
understanding and trust.
Hearing: The faculty of perceiving sounds.

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