Listening is an activity of great importance, as it demands high-class seriousness. It shows a person’s attitude towards other people.
Listening is a process of receiving, focusing, accepting and storing the spoken words
Hearing is merely the ability of ear to receive sounds but listening is more conscious effort to understand the spoken words.
Pretending Listening: The listener pretends through his facial expressions that the message is listened to. Selective Listening: It means selecting the desired part and ignoring the undesired part of the message. Attentive listening: It means paying attention to the words of the speaker.
Emphatic Listening: It is listening intently and intensively to understand the person fully both emotionally as well as intellectually. Listening for Mutual Creativity: In this type of listening both the listener and speaker benefit from each other’s experience knowledge and skill. Intuitive listening: In this type of listening we try to understand that part of the message of the speaker which he could not convey due to one or the other reason sometimes it is external conditions and sometimes internal dialogues which create problem for us and for the speaker.
Cautious:Good listeners are not hasty in making judgments they pay careful attention to words. Inquisitive:Good listeners ask questions not to embarrass or attack but to clarify. Active:They work hard to understand they exert energy in listening. Flexible:They understand that everyone has different communication style, and adjust their listening to correspond to the speaker’s communication style. Tactful:They interrupt intentionally and gently rather than habitually and rashly.
Persistent:Good listeners are willing to listen to something even if its hard to hear. Eager:They remember that they can learn from anyone. Analytical:They pay attention to both verbal and non-verbal communication. Understanding with context:They understand that every act of communication takes place in a context. Sociable:Good listeners understand how important listening is to a relationship. they value and seek to develop good listening skills.
Good listening skill can be hampered because of some elements: Prejudice: We hamper our power of listening because of our own prejudice against the speaker. we do not concentrate on what is being told. Distraction: External distraction plays an important role in misunderstanding the real words of the speaker. i.e. noisy fans, music from outside etc. Internal distraction also becomes a barrier to listening. By internal distraction we mean abnormal state of mind. Haste: Haste are quick judgments. The listener should give enough time so that he may say all that he wants to say.
Semantic barrier: It is created because of the negative meanings which a listener willingly attaches to the words of the speaker. Importance of good delivery: If the speech is delivered in a good style it will help the listeners in understanding not only the gist but also the contents of it.
We should talk less and listen much. Listen carefully with patience and concentration. While listening, do not show casual attitude by looking side ways or leaving your seat. Always listen to learn something. While listening, make the notes if possible. Always show positive attitude.
It indicates your good grooming that leads to valuable gains. It enables you to communicate fluently and nicely. It gives you a good understanding of different topics and subjects. It introduces good decision. It enhances your knowledge about new facts and motivates you.
Feedback is a reply to a message . Feedback can be oral or written. Senders need feedback in order to determine the success or failure of the communication.