Active ListeningTalent Power Partners

Active Listening

Listening is the most powerful form of acknowledgement, it is a way of saying

“You are important”.

Traits of a Good Listener?

Being non-evaluativeParaphrasingReflecting implicationsInviting further contributionsRespond non-verbally

Listening vs. Hearing

Listening is not the same as hearing, it is hearing with a purpose.

Hearing:● Physical process● Natural● Passive● Involuntary ● Effortless

Listening:● Physical & Mental process● Active● Learned Process● Skill

Listening is hardYou must choose to participate in

the process of listening.

Barriers To Listening

Uninteresting TopicsSpeaker’s DeliveryExternal DistractionsMentally Preparing

Response

Listening for FactsPerson Bias or

ConcernsFaking AttentionLanguage or Cultural

Difference

Becoming a Better Listener

1.Pay Attention

Listening builds stronger relationships, it creates a desire to cooperate among

people, because they feel accepted and acknowledged.

2. Show That You are Listening

Nonverbal:Smile

Eye-contact

Posture

Mirroring

Distraction

Verbal:● Positive

reinforcement● Remembering● Questioning● Reflection● Clarification● Summarization

3. Provide Effective FeedbackBe open and honest in your responseAssert your opinions respectfullyTreat the other person like you would want to be treatedBe assertive, but not aggressive

4. Defer Judgement

Listening creates acceptance and openness.

5. Respond Appropriately

“We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say.”

Role Play Scenarioswww.sccecc.org/training/downloads/Scenarios/Active%20Listening.doc

We will select 4 role play scenarios from the list.

Activity

http://tvncdi.org/documents/training-handouts/ActiveListeningExercises.pdf

Activity I

Listen and Act The rules of the game are quite simple. One person reads a series of instructions to complete a task. As the directions are read out, the participants follow them and try to act according to them. For example, team members can be given step by step instructions to draw a sketch or perform magic tricks, etc.

Activity II

Simultaneous Talking : Have the group break off into smaller groups of 3. Place 1 of the 3 in the center and the remaining 2 will be to either side. Give one person on the outside a mundane topic and the other a different mundane topic like helicopters or how to clean your room. Instruct the people on the outside to talk NONSTOP about their given topic to the person in the middle. The person in the middle is to try to maintain both conversations as best they can. Make sure that, when the person in the middle is addressing one conversation, he/she turns toward that person. Continue for a minute or 2 and place a new member of the 3 in the middle.