Listening

	We talk to each other all the time. However, sometimes we hear what others say but we do not really listen to them. Good listening improves communication. Indeed, without good listening, good communication cannot happen. But listening well requires work. The text analyzes the process of listening and offers good suggestions on how we can improve our listening skills. Pay special attention to the “stages of listening,” the “four types of listening,” and the “styles of listening.” Most of us are stronger at one style of listening than we are on others. Can you identify which “style of listening” you tend to use?
	Reading: Chapter 5 in Communication in the Real World (pp. 229-276)
Stages of listening (R-I-R-E-R) 1. Receiving a. The first stage of the listening process is receiving verbal and nonverbal communication 2. Interpreting a. Upon receiving, we interpret. 3. Recalling a. According to the text, Hargie (2011) claims that “we forget about half of what we hear immediately after hearing it, recall 35 percent after eight hours, and recall 20 percent after 24 hours.” (quoted from the text). In other words, recalling is an essential part of listening. b. Hargie emphasizes the role of short term memory and long term memory in the listening process. 4. Evaluating a. We begin evaluating immediately, sometimes even before we receive the communication. b. We continue to evaluate over time. 5. Responding a. The text highlights both positive and negative listening responses. i. Back-channel cues ii. Paraphrasing Four Types of listening 1. Descriminative Listening. Focusing our listening attention. 2. Informational Listening. 3. Critical Listening. 4. Emphathetic Listening. Styles of listening 1. People-Oriented. 2. Action-Oriented. 3. Content-Oriented. 4. Time-Oriented. Barriers to listening 1. Environmental and Physical. 2. Cognitive and Personal. 3. Speech and Thought Rates. 4. Lack of Preparation. 5. Bad Messages/Speakers 6. Prejudice 7. Bad Listening Practices. 8. Interrupting. 9. Distorted Listening. 10. Eavesdropping. 11. Aggressive Listening. 12. Narcissistic Listening. 13. Pseudo-Listening. Tips for good listening 1. Prepare to listening. 2. Be an active listener. 3. Learn to listen critically and empathetically. 4. Learn to listen contextually and relationally. 5. Create listenable messages. 6. Seek feedback.