Are You Paying Attention?
Assignements on Listening
Assignments
True/False Questions (2)
1. ______ Good listeners stay focused and do not become distracted.
2. ______ Good listeners do not ask questions.
3. ______ Good listeners should become emotionally involved.
4. ______ Good listeners don’t cut the speaker off.
5. ______ Good listeners give the speaker verbal and nonverbal cues to show they are paying attention.
6. ______ Good listeners listen with all their senses.
7. ______ Good listeners must control their emotions.
8. ______ Good listeners pay attention to distractions.
9. ______ Good listeners should understand what they other person is saying.
10.______ Good listeners should periodically give feedback about what they have been told.
11.______ Good listeners should not show the speaker they are interested if they are bored.
12.______ Good listeners should be aware of nonverbal cues the speaker is giving.
Answers:
1. T
2. F
3. F
4. T
5. T
6. T
7. T
8. F
9. T
10. T
11. F
12.
T
1. A common obstacle to effective listening is
a. Outside distractions
b. Personal concerns
c. Boredom
d. All
of these
2. A good way to improve your listening is to
a. Be
prepared
b. Clean your ears
c. Look the other direction
d. All of these
3. This may cause a speaker to change their approach or style.
a. Dress/attire
b. The listener
c. Feedback
d. All of the above
4. At least half of all communication is
a. Eye contact
b. Listening
c. Stance and posture
d. All of the above
Summary
Listening is one of the most important tools in the communication toolbox for creating meaningful, productive, and profitable relationships. Since it is a skill, listening can be learned. Once learned, it can be improved.
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Module Test
1. ______ Listening is a passive process.
2. ______ Communication is the sending and receiving of messages.
3. ______ Respectful, honest and well-though-out feedback can reduce the sting of rejection.
4. ______ Feedback will sometimes shape how the speaker behaves toward you.
5. ______ You can improve your listening by paying attention.
6. ______ Superiors listening to subordinates’ problems and suggestions is an example of organizational listening.
7. ______ People are more likely to listen to the people who do not listen to them.
8. ______ There are six common obstacles to effective listening.
9. ______ Feedback is communication.
10._____ When providing good feedback you should be general.
Answers:
1. F - active
2. T
3. T
4. T
5. T
6. T
7. F – who do listen to them
8. F - five
9. T
10. F - specific
Bibliography
Cooper, L.O., Seibold, D.R., & Suchner, R. (1997). Listening in organizations: An analysis of error structures in models of listening competency. Communication Research Reports, 14, 312-320.
Goss, B. (1982). Listening as information processing. Communication Quarterly, 30,
304-307.
Kelly, C. (1984). Empathic listening. In R.S. Cathcart &
Glossary
Listening – It is an active process and one of the most effective communication tools that creates meaningful, productive, and profitable relationships.
Feedback – It is communication where the listener tells the speaker s/he understand what they are saying.
Effective listening – Is the action one takes by paying attention to the speaker and overcoming all obstacles that come in the way.
Receiving – It is the other half of the communication process in which the listener acknowledges the information the sender is saying.
Learning Objectives
Q&A
1.
What are the values of listening?
Listening shows you trust and respect a person by valuing their opinions. It helps strengthen the common bonds that hold people together and creates organizational communities and a positive self-climate. Listening makes true communication possible and simplifies life.
2.
What are some of the skills you can use to become a good listener?
Some skills to become a good listener are to listen to yourself and how you respond to people, pay attention, try to imagine yourself in another person’s situation, learn to keep an open mind. Also to become a good listener you can become aware of the emotional power in words, be prepared, listen for ideas, ask yourself if you show that you are listening, and mentally summarize and paraphrase what is being said.
3.
What function does feedback serve for management?
Feedback shows that a manager has listened to the concerns and needs of others, and that employee have access to them. Also, feedback offers management the opportunity to learn about the concerns, needs, and ideas of their co-workers or subordinates.