Unit- I

Active Listening – Types and Barriers

What is active listening?

Active listening is the practice of listening to understand what someone is saying. When you
practice active listening, you’re exclusively focused on what the other person is saying
instead of planning what to say in response, as you would during a debate or conversation.
To confirm you understand, you then paraphrase what you heard back to the other person.
Depending on the conversation, you can also ask a specific, open-ended question to dig
deeper into the topic.

4 types of active listening

 Empathic listening is when you listen to understand. Think of listening when

someone shares a personal story. In this type of listening, you’re focused on the other
person, instead of yourself.

 Appreciative listening is when you listen to enjoy yourself. Think of listening to

music, a motivational speaker, or attending a religious ceremony.

 Comprehensive listening is when you listen to learn something new. This type of
listening happens when you listen to a podcast, the news, or an educational lecture,
like a class.

 Critical listening is when you listen to form an opinion of what someone else says.
This type of listening happens when you’re debating with someone or when you’re
listening to a sales person.

Barriers to Listening
Listening is not easy and there are a number of obstacles that stand in the way ofeffective
listening, both within outside the workplace.

These barriers may be categorized as follows.

1. Physiological Barriers: - some people may have genuine hearing problems or

deficiencies that prevent them from listening properly. It can be treated. Some people
may have problem in processing information or retaining information in the memory.
For example Lack of concentration/interest.

2. Physical Barriers: - These referred to distraction in the environment such as thesound

of an air conditioner , cigarette smoke, or an overheated room. It ca interfere the Listening
process. They could also be in the form of information overload. For example, if you are in
meeting with your manager and the phone rings and your mobile beeps at the same time to
let u know that you have the message. It is very hard to listen carefully to what is being
said. Arriving late for a speech, presentation or lecture. Therefore unavailability of
listeners. Speaker or listener being distracted by disturbances will also be coming into
physical barrier category.

3. Attitudinal Barriers :- pre occupation with personal or work related problems can
make it difficult to focus one’s attention completely on what speaker is saying, even what is
being said is of very importance. Another common attitudinalbarrier is egocentrism, or the
belief that the person have more knowledgeable than the speaker, or that there is nothing
new to learn from the speaker’s ideas. People with this kind of close minded attitude are
very poor listeners.

4. Wrong Assumptions :- The success of communication depend on the both thesender

and receiver. It is wrong to assume that communication is the sole responsibility of the
sender or the speaker and that listeners have no role to play.Such an assumption can be
big barrier to listening. For example, a brilliant speechor presentation, however well
delivered, is wasted if the receiver is not listening
at the other end. Listeners have as much responsibility as speakers to make the
communication successful. The process should be made successful by paying attention
seeking clarifications and giving feedback. Another example :Assuming that the speaker is
going to give some unimportant information .or Pre-judgmentsabout the speaker .

5. Cultural Barriers :- Accents can be barriers to listening, since they interfere with the
ability to understand the meaning of words that are pronounced differently. The problem
of different accents arises not only between cultures, butalso within a culture. For example,
in a country like India where there is enormouscultural diversity, accents may differ even
between regions states.

6. Gender Barriers :- communication research has shown that gender can be barrier
to listening. Studies have revealed that men and women listen very differently and for
different purposes. Women are more likely to listen for the emotion behind a speaker’s
words, when men listen more for the facts and thecontent.

7. Lack of Training :- Listening is not an inborn skill. People are not born good
listeners. It is developed through practice and training. Lack of training in listingskills is
an important barrier. In lack of training people do avoid listening to difficult, boring or
complex information and selectively listen only to what is considered interesting.

8. Bad Listening Habits :- Most people are very average listeners who have developed
poor listening habits that are hard to said and that act as barriers to listening. For
example, some people have the habits of “faking” attention, or trying to look like a
listeners, in order to impress the speaker and to assure himthat they are paying
attention. Others may tend to listen to each and every factand, as a result, miss out the
main point. For example Judging the speaker by his/her mannerisms, voice, appearance,
accent, etc
How To Listen Effectively?

1. Stop Talking – Be Silent

2. Show Interest

3. Empathize

4. Ask Questions

5. Maintain Eye Contact

6. Take notes

7. Listen Creatively

8. Put Your Entirety

9. Send feedback

10. Avoid or eliminate distraction

11. Try to gather information about the topic to develop interest and familiarity.
Benefits of Effective Listening

The skill of effective listening benefits personal growth and development in the
following ways:

• Enhances productivity:

When we do develop the habit of listening attentively and improve our concentration then
definitely we will be able to do our work more efficiently. Theskill of listening makes one a
good resource too for various works as concentration level improves too.

• Improves relations :

Relationships are damaged by misunderstandings that can lead to unsatisfactory business

transactions as well as hurt feelings in personal relationships. Excellent listening practices
tell others that they are important, special, and what they haveto say is valued. That is very
attractive and contributes to strong relationships

• Avoids conflicts:

Listening attentively improves understanding level of a person. He/she will listenmore

and speak less which will automatically reduce the conflicts in his/her relationships.
When people understand better they don’t argue and so situation of conflicts will rarely
occur.

• Improves understanding: (Reduces Misunderstanding)

Regardless of the clarity of written or spoken messages, the effective listener canprevent
misunderstandings and salvage what otherwise might be a miscommunication by
practicing active listening skills

• Improves negotiation skills (Effective Communication ):

Clear and concise transmission of information is an important component of effective
human interaction. Though the onus is often placed on presenting clear and concise written
or spoken directions, the listener also bears a responsibility tohear and understand
messages.

• Adds to your Image & Personality: (Personal Growth)

A person learns and grows by listening and understanding other viewpoints, differing
ideas, and exploring conflicting viewpoints. Learning the skill of active and effective
listening not only adds a tool to the personal development portfolio,but equips you to
continue growing with tools for exploring new ideas.

Ways to improve Listening skill

Hearing and Listening are two different activity. Hearing is passive whereas Listening is
active. Listening is a psychological process. It can therefore be improved by regular
practice. Listening is a very helpful skill. Active listening is really an extension of the
Golden Rule. Here are some of the tips which can helpthe person to improve his Listening
skill:

1. Face the speaker. Sit up straight or lean forward slightly to show your
attentiveness through body language.
2. Maintain eye contact, to the degree that you all remain comfortable.
3. Minimize external distractions. Turn off the TV. Put down your book or
magazine, and ask the speaker and other listeners to do the same.
4. Respond appropriately to show that you understand. Murmur (“uh-huh” and “um-
hmm”) and nod. Raise your eyebrows. Say words such as “Really,”“Interesting,” as
well as more direct prompts: “What did you do then?” and“What did she say?”
5. Focus solely on what the speaker is saying. Try not to think about what youare
going to say next. The conversation will follow a logical flow after the speaker
makes her point.

6. Minimize internal distractions. If your own thoughts keep horning in, simplylet them
go and continuously re-focus your attention on the speaker, much as you would
during meditation.

7. Keep an open mind. Wait until the speaker is finished before deciding thatyou
disagree. Try not
to make assumptions about what the speaker is thinking.
8. Avoid letting the speaker know how you handled a similar situation. Unlessthey
specifically ask
for advice, assume they just need to talk it out.
9. Even if the speaker is launching a complaint against you, wait until theyfinish to
defend
yourself. The speaker will feel as though their point had been made. Theywon’t feel
the need to repeat it, and you’ll know the whole argument before you respond.
Research shows that, on average, we can hear four times faster than we can talk, so
we have the ability to sort ideas as they come in…and be ready for more.
10. Engage yourself. Ask questions for clarification, but, once again, wait untilthe
speaker has finished. That way, you won’t interrupt their train of thought. After
you ask questions, paraphrase their point to make sure youdidn’t misunderstand.
Start with: “So you’re saying…”