...The Importance of Active Listening Communication is an essential of our everyday life; something we do as naturally as taking our next breath. Many of us see listening in much the same way. Communicating goes much deeper than just instinctive reaction. It takes work. Communication requires active listening and an understanding of interpersonal relationships to have satisfying workplace relations. “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” ~~Steven R. Covey Communication is more than speaking and hearing. Hearing requires no effort, but listening does. To actively listen you have to pay attention so you can process and analyze the message to respond appropriately. Yes, active listening is work, sometimes hard work but the one thing that is more important in the office than your education, qualifications, or experience, is your ability to be an active listener. Active listening improves understanding through being attentive to the speaker; allowing you to reflect on the message instead of planning your next response. Attentive listening minimizes defensiveness and allows for constructive conversation and problem-solving. Active listening requires listening, reflecting, and acknowledging. Feedback from acknowledgment reduces misunderstanding and allows decision making in the workplace without errors. Active listening is an important part of building relationships in the workplace. Every environment whether it be...
Words: 728 - Pages: 3
...Effective Listening Strategies Paper Melinda Schimmel BSHS/385 1/26/2015 Barbara Hughson Effective Listening Strategies In the following paper, it is my intention to establish with the reader a link between effective listening skills and the importance they have when establishing relationships. These relationships could be with family, co-workers and most importantly, the clients that we do or will come in to contact with. (Article I) Effective Interpersonal Listening and Personal Selling is the first article reviewed. This particular article is geared toward listening strategies in the sales world. However, the key points on effective listening are all the same when it comes to our clientele and showing them that we are actively listening to what they are telling us. Even sales people need to actively listen to their customers to truly know what it is they need and want. Without actively listening, the clients will end up unhappy and the salesman will end up with no sale. Many people mix up the act of hearing with the act of listening, in reality, they are two different concepts. “Hearing is defined as the special sense by which noise and tones are received as stimulus" (Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary 1991, p. 559). Hearing is just one step in how we actually listen to people. While listening is the act of not just hearing what is being said, but also responding to the stimuli being heard. We can do this not only verbally, but non-verbally as well. We...
Words: 1232 - Pages: 5
...person-centred thinking skills; total communication; essential lifestyle planning and person-centred reviews; Carl Rogers’ theoretical background to person-centred therapy; the four key principles of rights, independence, choice and inclusion; reflecting the unique circumstances of individuals; embedding person-centred values; the importance of individuality; appreciation of individual rights; enabling individuals to make decisions and choices; the importance of privacy; empowering individuals to maintain independence and dignity; treating individuals with respect; respecting persons’ diversity, culture and values; awareness of risk-taking in person centred approaches, enabling individuals to make informed decisions and understand the consequences e.g. the harmful effects of smoking, the benefits of taking prescribed medication, the advantages of immunisation Care and support documenting where day-to-day requirements and preferences for care and...
Words: 781 - Pages: 4
...Effective Listening Strategies Paper Laura Bedford Harper BSHS 385 Connie Cucuzza September 21, 2015 Effective listening is more than just hearing what an individual is saying. Effective listening is letting go of all distractions and focusing solely on the verbal and nonverbal. Through using understandable language, detaching self from solution oriented listening and applying active listening skills. A listener will be better equip to understand and aid the speaker when the time comes. In Blyth's article from 2012, he spoke with the emphasis on word count. He expressed that for listeners to comprehend, two hundred and fifty words per minute is suggested, and however, one hundred and twenty-seven is optimal. To prove his theory, Blyth used compound words for which the listeners may not have to understand, therefore stopping to see if they were following and reading their body language. This concept resulted in comprehension of the word or giving up in attempting to understand. By doing this study, listeners missed out on what was being said during this contemplative process. Blyth went on stressing the importance of the audience comprehension of what is being said by the speaker. Floyd (2011) states that listeners develop their meaning from the dialogue, and that is presented. However, researchers suggest that the assumption of listening skills can be similar to those of reading skills. Blyth disagrees with this theory and states that when reading the individual can...
Words: 1606 - Pages: 7
...Nursing is a unique profession in that there are numerous different types of nurses, yet they can all experience the beginning of life as well as the end of life. Both nurses in addition to community-based nurses can yield special bonds with patients and their families. To me nursing is a very worthwhile profession and to become any type of nurse is an award within itself. This paper will converse how effective the communication in nursing practice will ease a mutually satisfying therapeutic patient nurse and their family relationship. Nursing is a challenging profession and requires critical thinking and good communication skills. With the baby boomers getting older the need for nurses is more than ever. No matter the setting whether it is in the hospital or in a community, nurses receive the same reward of helping people. Nursing has come a long way since Florence Nightingale and will continue to evolve well beyond into the future. Communication mainly requires the mindful utilization of the spoken word, and even though accounting for only fifteen percent of all interpersonal communication, is the major means of stating factual information in relations among nurse, patient and patient’s family. At the same time as communication is a vital part of building the relationship among nurse, patient and patient family members it is also just as significant among nurse and coworker. A virtuous relationship is good to quality patient care, obviously both nurse and coworker have the...
Words: 1388 - Pages: 6
...BSHS/385 WEEK THREE EFFECTIVE LISTENING STRATEGIES The main objective of listening is to establish empathy between the helper and client by listening to the clients words, sensing their feelings, and interpreting their thoughts. It is very important that clients know and feel that their helper is paying attention and care about the story they are telling. I have reviewed three articles that can really help me in my career when it comes to being an active and effective listener. Article one: The human side of teaching: Effective Listener. This article is very informative by offering effective listening suggestions. It suggest that professionals listen fully to clients without any interruptions. By waiting for the client to pause on speaking, giving the professional time to empathize before asking questions. This is very important to focus on the client and conversation at hand, so you’re able to give feedback to the client. Also, listen with your eyes, ears, and body. Who knew by sitting a certain way or spot would show your client that you’re giving your undivided attention and allow you to notice those non-verbal gestures or expressions. Taking notes allows you to be more engaged with any speaker and prove that you are listening effectively (Boyd, 2001). I am a strong believer of eye contact when talking with someone. Article two: The gift of listening: JUST Listening Strategies. This article discuss how listening with sensitivity is a key component when...
Words: 658 - Pages: 3
...Climate essay The following paper explains the importance of active listening in the workplace. It also explains how supportive and defensive climates can improve relations in the workplace. Active listening in the workplace Active listening involves being present in every conversation you have. Listening with undivided attention communicates respect for the person with whom you are speaking. There is a big difference between hearing and listening. For example if the person responds “I hear you” but their body language shows they are not. Hearing is a physical ability that the ears receive feelings and transmit them to the brain while listening is a skill. Listening skills allow one to make sense of what another person is saying. Active listening is not always embraced in the workplace because there is such a premium value placed on multitasking. Active listening is important in all situations where people are communicating with each other. In the workplace active listening allows employers to understand their employees and create a workplace that is responsive to employee needs. For example in service industries, active listening allows service providers to better understand what customer expectations are and meet those expectations. Active listeners let people know they care about what is being said and help the speaker articulate the true meaning of their thoughts and the true source of their feelings. The active listener seeks to understand and remember what is being...
Words: 958 - Pages: 4
...Self-Discovery thru the Art of Listening: An Annotated Bibliography Diane Jones Saint Petersburg College INTRODUCTION The resources listed in this annotated bibliography are intended to bring to light the importance of listening, in our professional lives as well as in our personal lives. The focus is learning to listen and the importance of being a good listener. Whether in a business relationship or a personal relationship, communication is the key --- forty-five percent of which is listening. Having good listening skills can lead to career advancement. For instance, a manager needs to have the ability to listen nonjudgmentally for valid information and to understand others point of view in order to make managerial decisions. Active listening can help you better understand thoughts and feelings of others and provide positive communication in your relationships. A portion of this research involves self-knowledge and how to get to know yourself better. We are always talking to ourselves, silently, in our heads, thinking… without really paying attention or analyzing our thoughts. Are we really even listening to ourselves? Perhaps we could discover a part of our unknown selves… I am now wondering what all I have missed out on in my lifetime from hearing rather than listening. There is an art to listening and it must be learned and developed through practice. Learning to listen effectively is a complex, challenging, and lifelong undertaking. These resources offer...
Words: 948 - Pages: 4
...discuss how to practice active listening, the importance of organizational culture, how to resolve conflict, and the process of formal and informal communication. I will address why they are necessary for successful communication and how best to implement them within your organization. I. Topic Sentence #1 Active listening is a communication skill that facilitates understanding, comprehension and compassion between people. Good listeners actively process information, make comments and ask questions. They engage in conversation and purposeful in listening, therefore creating opportunities that improve relationships, cooperation and solve problems. Supporting Evidence Active listening is important in all situations where people are communicating with each other. According to the National Communication Association, “Effective communication is critical to achieving high quality personal and work relationships” A. Explanation Some people may think that hearing what the other person is saying is enough, but just hearing a person does not guarantee that the person’s message is being interpreted as they intend it. The keyword is active; the listener has to have an active role in the conversation. This means that the listener must receive and understand the message in order for the communication to be effective. In order to do so, the listener must take into consideration the sender’s point of view and personal perspective of the subject being discussed. Active listeners should...
Words: 1350 - Pages: 6
...Andrea Beachum Effective Listening Strategies Paper BSHS 385 October 12, 2015 Audra Stinson Effective Listening Strategies Paper The understanding of what effective listening is and what it means is a vital part of the role of human service provider. Effective listening means more than just hearing what your client is saying to you when they are in a session. Effective listening means that you as the provider are able to understand their body language and other nonverbal cues. By using effective learning skills the human service provider can help the client by providing the right tools and resources to help them gain control over their situation and to help them find a way to a solution. What is effective listening? Effective listening is defined as the ability to actively understand and listen to what the client is saying and to show interest into what is being discussed. Effective listening also means that you are providing the client/individual with reflective feedback that demonstrates that you not only heard what they were saying but that you understand as well. (Effective Listening Skills, 2004-2015) Ways to demonstrate attentive/effective listening skills There are many different ways to show your client and others around you that you are actively listening to what they are saying. Some of these skills come naturally while others tend to need some practice. Listed below are some of the skills that are important when communicating...
Words: 1097 - Pages: 5
...to business failure, as well as poor relationships with co-workers. Three positive methods of communication are active listening, effective speaking, and confidence. Three negative methods of communication are strong reactions, providing misleading information, and the use improper communication tools. Ari Gold displays both positive and negative communication skills as a Hollywood agent. Active listening can make or break a relationship with a client. While engaging in conversation, the listener and speaker must both participate. Eye contact and gestures must be practiced by the listener to show acknowledgement of comprehension. This allows the speaker to know whether their point is getting across. If the listener is confused, they must ask questions, ask the speaker to change the wording, or give a more detailed explanation (McKay). Ari Gold’s active listening made him the powerful businessman that he is today. Ari’s job revolves around listening to others and having an ear everywhere in Hollywood. Ari uses a pyramid system for active listening. He has employees find out information about clients, roles, and movie scripts. As this information gets passed up through the pyramid, only the most important reports make the top. This allows Ari to know what is going on at all times, as well as investigate anything of his interest if needed. Active listening plays a huge role in this scheme due to significance of information...
Words: 1442 - Pages: 6
...TRAINING SCENARIOS “Active Listening” | SCENARIO DESCRIPTION | |Learners will participate in a listening exercise to practice the skill of active listening. | | | |Instructions: | |Present the handout “Active Listening” to the class. Review techniques listed. | |Begin with a discussion about what active listening is and what active listening is not. (Active listening is being non-judgmental, with the | |emphasis on listening and not solving the issue or problem. It is being attentive and respectful to the person talking. It involves | |listening closely, paraphrasing back to the speaker what you hear, clarifying what you think you hear, etc. Active Listening is not planning | |your response to what the person is saying. It is not day dreaming while they are talking. It is not solving their problems or giving advice.)| |Divide the class into groups of three and have each group decide who will be the active listener, who will role-play the scenario, and who...
Words: 2083 - Pages: 9
...Communication Recommendation’s MR slone Interpersonal Communication Summer Beretsky 02/11/2013 Dear Chris and Shelbie I am writing to you to give you some advice on Interpersonal Communication. I will explain on the importance of this to have a long and healthy relationship and of course how to communicate effectively. There are tons of topics to explore to do this but I have chosen in my eyes the top five to explore and explain for you. Make sure to take this advice on and apply this to your relationship and you will watch it flourish into much more. Identify the barriers to effective communication I will start out with the common barriers and how to get past them. The three common barriers are Silence, placating, and playing games. Silence is something that is used a lot against each other in a relationship when one is mad or hurt or as some might understand it as the silent treatment. One marriage therapist reports that people most commonly resort to silence when they are angry and/or hurt, when they are unable to communicate their feelings, or when they want to punish their partner (Slupesky, 2010). This can be very unhealthy for your relationship and can be very phsycologicalely damaging. It is best no matter the situation or why you’re mad or angry to always be open and honest. The only way to get past the anger or hurt is my communicating to each other. Sure in some point in life we have all used this to in our own way teach our partner a lesson. This is something...
Words: 2694 - Pages: 11
...1. From the interaction does it seem to you that Alan is actively listening? Why or why not? I don’t feel that Alan is using active listening at all during his interactions with his employees. Being mindful is the first step to communicating effectively. In her book, Interpersonal Communication, Wood states “that instead of focusing on information, we concentrate on what lies between and behind the content in order to understand what another is feeling, thinking, needing, or wanting in a conversation” (2013, pg.158). Alan shows this unwillingness to be mindful in both interactions with his employees. He concentrates on the negative and doesn’t care or concern himself with the reasoning for his employee’s shortcomings. Wood also suggests that initially one should avoid passing judgments. “Imposing our own judgments separates us from others and their feelings” (Wood, 2013, pg.158). During the first interaction, Alan starts the conversation by criticizing the woman for working too slow and how it is in turn slowing the entire team. This leads to the employee feeling that her job is now being threatened, leaving them both feeling uncomfortable and ineffective. 2. Describe how Alan’s opening thoughts on his job, narrated in the video, affect his approach to the performance reviews. Does Alan’s view of his job foster a negative or positive work atmosphere with his employees? Explain. Alan had extremely negative self-talk regarding his performance at work which lead to a very negative...
Words: 1022 - Pages: 5
...Effective Listening Strategies BSHS 385 April 21, 2015 Dr. Barbara Hughson Effective Listening Strategies Effective listening is an important part of the human service profession. This paper will review three articles about effective listening. For each article, I will provide a summary that includes my thoughts of the article, what was learned about effective listening, and how I can apply it to my daily life as a human service professional. I will also discuss my thoughts on how I will use these strategies and how effective they may be. The first article I read is called “Listen Carefully." This article is discussing teaching listening skills to school-aged children. Some of the research reviewed shows the importance of listening when it comes to human learning and development. Learning how to listen is the first skill in language most children will develop first. Once children begin school, listening becomes even more important because the majority of what children learn is through listening. An interesting fact to me was when McPherson (2008) stated, “Teaching listening skills to middle school at-risk readers improved their reading comprehension scores and found that listening to a story while reading the story's words also improved elementary children's reading comprehension.” (McPherson, 2008) This speaks volumes to me especially when the teaching of listening skills in the classroom is not being done today. Teachers who start teaching listening strategies have...
Words: 1228 - Pages: 5
