Page 13 - DENG102_COMMUNICATION_SKILLS_II

Communication Skills-II

notes l 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.

l Listening is a mental activity and hearing is a physical activity. Listening includes hearing.
In hearing, we get sounds but we do not use mind. In listening, we have to understand,
retain and recall also. Listening is a natural process.

l God has given us two ears and one tongue. It indicates that listening is more important
than speaking.

l The average listener who hears a 10-minute presentation will hear, understand, and retain
only half of what was said. Forty-eight hours later that portion drops another 25 percent.
Part of the reason for poor listening ability is the educational system which emphasizes
the speaker at the expense of the listener. The system focuses major attention on reading,
writing, and speaking skills – not on listening skills.

l Yet another study show that 45 percent of the total working hours are spent on listening,
30 percent on speaking, 16 percent on reading, and 9 percent on writing.
l Writing and speaking skills improve with practice. It is not in the case of listening skills. It
will improve only by consciousness and concentration.

l Listening is a process in perpetual motion. It begins when one hears or observes what is
being said, continues as one stores and correlates the information, than begin again with
one’s reaction.

l Listening is possible through observations. Hence, eyes help to get non-verbal
communication of the speaker.

l For developing listening skills, little effort is being made by educators and trainers. In
order to improve reading, writing and speaking, instructors continuously guide and help
others. Rarely do we find such effort for listening.

l Recognition is being given to best speakers. Rarely, we find a situation when best listeners
are appreciated.

1.3.2 Presenting

In addition to the informal face-to-face communication that goes on many of us, under different
circumstances, have to make formal presentations. From time to time we participate and speak
in committee meetings, conferences, seminars, classrooms, group discussions, etc. In fact public
speaking and oral reporting is an essential part of a student’s, teacher’s as well as a manager’s
job.
Presentation means presenting something before people on some formal occasion. It is also
known as ‘public speaking’. The term ‘presentation’ is preferred perhaps because the purpose of
a presentation is defined more precisely than that of a public speech. Moreover, presentation is
done before a select audience whereas in a public speech the audience is not selected. Presentation
can be defined as a formal event characterized by teamwork and use of audio-visual aids. The
main purpose of presentation is to give information, to persuade the audience to act and to
create goodwill. A good presentation should have a good subject matter, should match with the
objective, should best fit the audience, and should be well organized.
Developing presentation skills is an art where most of the training and learning require greater
focus and attention. Executives, non executives, instructors, trainers and administrators need to
strengthen their skills with respect to their presentations before varied target groups.

8 lovely Professional university