Self-Assessment – Chapter 15



Self-Assessment – Chapter 15

HOW DO YOU LISTEN?

This chapter assessment helps you identify how you listen (not if you listen).

Scoring

Scoring instructions follow the assessment on page 623 of the text. Your score will fall between 10 and 50. Once you calculate your raw score, plot it on the following continuum.

50 45 38 28 0

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Active Involved Passive Detached

Here are descriptions of the listening tendencies from the continuum:

Active

The active listener gives full attention to listening when others are talking and focuses on what is being said. You expend 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.

Involved

The involved listener gives most of his or her attention to the speaker’s words and intentions. You reflect on the message to a degree and participate in the speaking-listening exchange. You practice some direct eye contact and may have alert posture or stance, although this may be intermittent.

Passive

The passive listener receives information as though being talked to rather than as being an equal partner in the speaking-listening exchange. Because you assume that the responsibility for the success of the communication belongs to the speaker, you are usually inattentive, disinterested, and may be restless, bored, or easily distracted. Your noticeable lack of enthusiasm may be marked by a slumped or very relaxed posture and by avoiding direct eye contact.

Detached

The detached listener withdraws from the speaking-listening exchange and becomes the object of the speaker’s message rather than its receiver. Like the passive listener, detached listeners are usually inattentive, disinterested, and may be restless, bored, or easily distracted. Your noticeable lack of enthusiasm may be marked by slumped or very relaxed posture and avoidance of direct eye contact.

Things to Consider

The listening inventory gives you a general idea of your preferred listening style, in other words, the way in which you typically listen to others. The scores indicating styles are approximations and should be regarded as such. Also know that you may change your listening style when responding to a certain situation or to your interests, intentions, or objectives. In other words, listening styles are not necessarily constant and absolute. Still, you may train yourself to be a better listener in a variety of situations by following these simple guidelines:

❖ Defer judgment and listen for feelings and facts.

❖ Pay attention to content.

❖ Listen completely first, make people feel valued.

❖ Listen for the main idea, disregard minor points.

❖ Avoid sidetracking and sarcastic remarks.

❖ Give yourself internal clues to listen.

❖ Realize listening is a full-time job, so keep eye contact.

❖ Listen carefully, give feedback, and ask for confirmation.

❖ Feel your anger, but control it.

❖ Make affirmative statements.

❖ Maintain patience while listening.

❖ Listen for emotions.

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