COMM ASSESS III

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i rART olrE Communication Principles lor Leadership

We mentioned that listening is very similar to learning. |ust as you have a dominant style for learning, listening researchers argue that you have a dominant listening style.a3 To learn more about your listening style, take a few minutes to complete and score the Listen- ing Styles Inventory in Rating Scale 4.1, developed by listening researchers Glenn Pearce, Iris lohnson, and Randolph Barker"f

*ffit34.I Listening Styles lnventory

The following items relate to your listening style. Circle the number of the response that best reflects your behavior. Please be candid,

Items

1. I want to listen to what others have to

Almost Almost Always 0ften Sometimes Seldom Never

54321 say when they are talking.

2, I do not listen at my capacitywhen 5 4 3 2 1 others are talking.

3.Bylistening,lcanguessaspeaker's 5 4 3 2 1 intent or purpose without being told,

4. lhaveapurposeforlisteningwhen 5 4 3 2 1 others are talking,

5. I keep control of my biases and 5 4 3 2 1 attitudes when listening to others speak so that these factors won't affect my interpretation ofthe message.

6. I analyze my listening errors so as not 5 4 3 2 1 to make them again.

7, I listen to the complete message before 5 4 3 2 1 making judgments a hout what the speaker has said.

8, lcannottellwhenaspeaker'sbiaSesor 5 4 3 2 1 attitudes are affecting his or her message.

9. laskquestionswhenldonlfully 5 4 3 2 1 understand a speakert message,

10, lamawareofwhetheraspeaker's 5 4 3 2 1 meaning for words and concepts is the same as mine.

Grandtotal-

-+ -+ -+ -+ _*

Now consult the lnterpretation Scale. Place an X on the part of the scale below that corre- sponds to your grand total score. Your listening style is described below.

Active lnvolved Passive Detached

The activo listener gives full attention to listening when others are talking and focuses on what is being said. This person expends a lot of energy participating in the speaking- listening exchange, which is usually evidenced by an alert posture or stance and much direct eye contact.

10 I

28 I

38 I

45 I

50 I

cHAnTER 4 Listening and Besponding

The involved listener gives most of his or her attention to the speaker's words and intentions. This person reflects on the message to a degree and participates in the speaking-listening

exchange. The involved listener practices some direct eye contact and may have an alert

posture or stance, although this may be intermittent.

The passive listenerreceives information asthough beingtalkedtd-ratherthan participating

as an equal partner in the speaking-listening exchange. Although the passive listener assumes

that the responsibility for the success of the communication is the speaker's, he or she is

usually attentive, although attention may be faked at times. The passive listener seldom

expends any noticeable energy in receiving and interpreting messages.

The detached listenerwithdraws from the speaking-listening exchange and becomes the object of the speaker's message ratherthan its receiver. The detached listener is usually

inattentive, uninterested, and may be restless, bored, or easily distracted. This perspn's

noticeable lack of enthusiasm may be marked by slumped 0r very relaxed posture and avoidance of direct eye contact.

Note: The listening inventory gives you a general idea of your preferred listening style, based on how you view yourself. The scores indicating styles are approximations and should

be regarded as such. Your listening style may change, depending on the given situation or your interests, intentions, or obiectives.

a. {(J ltlrr Listening Skill

Stop: Turn Off Competing

Messages

Look: Listen with Your Eyes

Listen: Understand Both Major ldeas and Details

Listening Strategies

Prepare yourself physically.

Prepare yourself by setting the

sc ene.

Prepare yourself by getting to

meetings early.

Look for liking cues.

Look for interest cues.

Look for status cues.

Listen for the maior ideas in the

message.

Listen for the details in the message.

Link the details with the main ideas.

Listen actively.

Examples

Turn toward the person, look the person in the eye, and

relax.

lf necessary, move to another room away from

distra ctions.

Arriving a few minutes early is best, but even being a few seconds early will help you to refocus 0n the new task.

Look for forward body lean, head nods, direct eye contact, smiling, open body orientation, and expressive gestures and voice.

0bserve for vibrant voice, dynamic gestures, excited

facial expressions, and energetic body movements.

0bserve body posture, body orientation, head positlon,

and amount of smiling, nodding, eye contact, and facial

animation.

Ask questions to get at the major point of the message,

which may be the relational message,

Ask questions aboutthe specific details in the mes- sage,

Use elaboration strategies for organizing the informa-

tion in order to fully understand the message.

Give the other person your full attention, focus, ask questions, paraphrase, and withhold judgment,