Listening is the most commonly used yet least taught communication skill. It is important for success in both personal and professional relationships. Effective listening requires overcoming barriers like biases and focusing fully on the speaker. It also involves making eye contact, taking notes, and avoiding distracting mannerisms. Note taking is a valuable listening skill that forces attention and provides a record for review, but it requires practice to learn properly. Strong listening leads to better performance, relationships, problem solving abilities, and understanding of expectations.

2. _______________________________________________
Communication Order Learned Extent Used Extent Taught
__________________________________________
_
Listening First First Fourth
Speaking Second Second Third
Reading Third Third Second
Writing Fourth Fourth First

3. Listening Is With The Mind
Hearing With The Senses
Listening Is Conscious
Listening is making sense of those words and
understanding their meaning.

4. Environmental barriers
 Physiological barriers
 Psychological barriers
 Selective Listening
 Negative Listening Attitudes
Wrong assumptions (Bias or prejudice)
Cultural barriers
Gender barriers
Language difference or accents

5.  Hearing
 Understanding
 Responding

6.  What You Think about Listening ?
 Prepare to listen – Actually listen
 Adjust to the situation
 Focus on ideas or key points
 Maintain eye contact

7.  What You Do about Listening ?
 Establish eye contact with the speaker
 Take notes effectively
 Be a physically involved listener
 Avoid negative mannerisms

8.  Note making is a skill
 Most people feel deficient
 It can be learned
 This takes understanding of what you're doing
 It takes practice, which involves effort
 Spoken language is quickly gone

9.  Provides a written record for review
 Provides a definite, limited learning task
 Forces you to pay attention
 Requires organization, and active effort on the part
of the listener

10.  More productive in practically anything you do.
 Develop relationships to a deeper level.
 Understand what is expected of you - at work,
home and with friends.
 Be a better team player.
 Be an effective problem solver.
 Better support people who need your help.
 Better understand the assignment and what is
expected to you
 Build rapport with co-workers, bosses and clients
 Show support
 Answer questions

11. Thank You