Effective listening is an important skill that leads to success. Nearly all top business executives and teachers are excellent listeners. Listening allows one to gain new information and improve communication. There are different types of listening including content, comprehensive, critical, and empathetic listening, each with their own goal. However, listening can be hindered by external distractions, one's thinking speed, premature evaluation, semantic differences, delivery issues, and personal prejudices. These barriers can be overcome by preparing for discussions, maintaining a positive approach, listening to understand rather than refute, respecting others' views, and trying to understand different perspectives. Nonverbal cues like body language and tone of voice convey most of the message.

1. The Art
of
Listening

2. Receiving the Message
Understanding it with one’s own perspective
Remembering for further Reference
Evaluation of the Evidence
Response to the Speaker
…is called Listening.

3. Importance of Listening
•Nearly all Top notch business executives, successful politicians and brilliant
teachers are excellent listener.
•Effective listeners hold higher positions and are promoted more often than
others.
•When business managers rank-order the communication skills most crucial to
their jobs, they usually rank listening number one.
•In one survey of Fortune 500 companies of America, almost 60 percent of the
respondents said that they provide some kind of listening training for their
employees.
•Close to 90% of class time in colleges and universities is spent listening to
discussions and lectures.

4. Purpose of Listening
To gain new information.
Good listeners must have good knowledge
and information over 360 degrees aspect.
To quest and test evidence and
assumptions.
Good listeners test facts, opinions,
assumptions and then question the speaker.
To be inspired.
To improve communication.
Enthusiasm, getting touched, moved is
possible only through effective listening.
People attending meetings, conferences and
seminars have good speaking potential and
knowledge.

5. Types/Styles of Listening
Since we listen for different reasons, so the way to listen
effectively varies from one situation to another.

6. Content Listening
To understand and retain the
message being conveyed.
Information flows from speaker,
no matter you agree or
disagree, approve or
disapprove.

7. Comprehensive Listening
Listening to fully
understand the message of
speaker: Example,
Classroom lecture or
directions to find
something.

8. Critical Listening
The goal is to understand and
evaluate the meaning of the
logic of the arguments, the
strength of evidence, the
validity of the conclusion, the
speakers motives and
intentions.

9. Emphatic Listening
Empathic listening will
help enhance relationship
because you help the
individual to vent the
emotions.

10. Barriers in Listening
External Distraction: Noisy fans,
dim/glaring light , cold, over
temperature, room furniture etc divert
attention.
Thinking Speed: People can process
800 wpm while speakers speak with
a rate of 80-160 wpm, in the fraction
of time mind gets distracted.
Premature Evaluation: Because of our
thinking speed we process / evaluate
discussion and jump to conclusion
without, sometimes, even paying heed
to what others wish to express.
Semantic Stereotypes: Diction
depends on company, field, attitude,
and exposure. People inadvertently
use different words thus this results in
barrier.
Delivery: Intonation (Rise & Fall)
and stress give color to speech and
keep listeners active. Monotonous
takes them to drowsiness.
Prejudice against the Speaker: If
listeners have any bias against the
speaker, they don’t pay attention
hence do not listen.

11. To overcome the barriers of
Listening
1. Be prepared --Reach your
class/interview/meeting prepared.
2. Do things with positive approach.
3. Listen to understand not to refute.
4. Respect those with whom you
disagree.
5. Try to understand other point of view.

12. 10% Words
55% Body Language
35% Tone of Voice
Know what matters
10% is content, 90% is intent

13. Thank you for your kind attention.