Listening Skills

Presented By: Sidra Akhlaq (TE-004)

Anum Jabeen (TE-023)
Sameen Iqbal (TE-024)
Ahtisham Ahmed (EE-15254)
 Introduction

• Listening is the process of receiving, constructing meaning from , and responding to

spoken and/or non- verbal messages; to hear something with thoughtful attention.
• Listening is the most important communication skill
• We probably spend more time using our Listening Skills than any other kind of skill
• Like other skills, Listening takes practice
• Real Listening is an active process
• Listening requires attention
 Receiving Interpreting

LISTENING
PROCESS

Responding Remembering

Evaluating
 BAD LISTENER GOOD LISTENER
1) Tends to enter in arguments 1) Judges content and skips over
delivery errors
2) Listens for facts 2) Interrupts only to clarify

3) Fakes attention and takes extensive 3) Takes fewer notes

notes
4) Is distracted easily 4) Uses heavier material as exercise for
the mind
5) Tends to daydream with slow 5) Listens between the lines and weighs
speakers the evidence
 Types of Listening
1) Discriminative Listening
• When the listener interprets and assigns meaning to sound rather than to words.
• The listener interprets the differences and nuances of sounds and body language.
• Recognition and interpretation of accents are an example of discriminative listening.

2) Comprehensive Listening
• It is the interpretation of the words and ideas.
• Listening to fully understand the message of speaker
• Examples are attending a lecture in classroom and a group leader instructing the group
members about their tasks.
3) Critical Listening
• Listening in order to evaluate, criticize, or pass judgment on what someone is saying.
• The listener is expected to reply critically while giving feedback.
• Example is while listening to a election campaign.

4) Content Listening
• It is to understand and retain the speakers message.
• When you try to grab each and every point and listen properly.

5) Selective Listening
• Selecting the desired part of the message and ignoring the undesired one.
• It’s a type of mental filtering in which we tune out someone’s opinions or ideas when they
don’t line up with ours.
6) Empathetic Listening
• Understanding the perspective or experience of the speaker by placing oneself
in that circumstance.
• It requires excellent discrimination and close attention to the nuances of
emotional signals.
• Example is listening to a sad story of a friend.
 Barriers to listening
The factors which act as impediments to effective listening are considered as barriers to
effective listening and can be classified into the following:

1) Physical Barriers
We can summarize the physical barriers to include:
• Noise
• Poor acoustics
• Defective mechanical devices
• Frequent interruptions
• Uncomfortable seating arrangements and environment
• Message overload
• Extraneous noise
• The first step of the listening process is hearing, and extraneous noise disturbs the
hearing process.
• Extraneous noise disturbs both the listener and the speaker.
• In case a device like a microphone or telephone is being used, Poor acoustics of the
room or uncomfortable seating arrangements may make it difficult for the listener to
concentrate on the speaker.
• Message overload involves listening to a lot of information one after another, also
makes it impossible to listen attentively after a certain point.
2) People-related Barriers
• Both the speaker and the listener influence the communication process. People-
related barriers can be both physiological and psychological.

3) Physiological Barriers
a) State of Health
• The physical condition of the individual affects the listening ability.
• Fever, pain or any other form of bodily discomfort makes it difficult for an
individual to listen attentively.
• Similarly poor health conditions of a speaker reduce his ability to speak well and this
in turn reduces the listening efficiency of the listener.
b) Disability
• Hearing is the first step of the listening process and, therefore, hearing deficiencies
may lead to poor listening.
• Similarly, speech disorders of the speaker may make speech incoherent to the listener.
• The speaker speaks in shrill voice that does not reach the receiver.
c) Wandering Attention
• The speaker lets the mind wander rather than Stay focused on message.
• The receiver of the message does not consider the speaker to be well informed.
4) Psychological Barriers
Psychological barriers relate to attitudinal and behavioural aspects. These include the
following:
Being Unsure of the Speaker’s Ability
• This acts as a barrier to the listening process as the listener will not listen to what the
speaker has to say.
• He may perceive the speaker to not be well informed, or to be lacking in depth and
ability.
Personal Anxiety
• Sometimes we are preoccupied with personal concerns and anxieties. This makes it
difficult to perceive what is being said and thus acts as a barrier to effective listening.
Attitude
• Many times the attitude of the listener acts as a barrier to effective listening.
• The listener may be highly egocentric with a ‘know it all attitude’.
• A casual attitude on the part of the listener towards listening, assuming it can be done
without much concentration and effort.
Impatience
• The listener may not have the patience to wait for the other person to finish what he has to
say.
• He may be intolerant or may be eager to add his own points to the discussion.
• As a result, his desire to speak overcomes his desire to listen.
 How to become an effective listener?
• Let yourself finish listening before you begin to speak ! You can't really listen if
you are busy thinking about what you want to say next

• Listen for main ideas . The main ideas are the most important points the speaker
wants to get across.

• Pay special attention to statements that begin with phrases such as “My point is...”
or “the thing to remember is……’’

• Ask questions . If you are not sure you understood what the speaker has said, just
ask.

• At appropriate points you may also smile, frown, laugh, or be silent. These are the
ways to let the speaker know that you are listening.
• Prepare yourself to listen mentally, physically, and emotionally. Be well rested and well
fed
• Give feedback . Sit up straight and look directly at the speaker. Now and then, nod to
show that you understand.
• Repress any tendency to respond emotionally or negatively to the message
• Listen for both, the global meaning of the message and the speaker’s evidence or
arguments
• Paraphrase the message to achieve full comprehension and clarity
• Identify barriers to listening and eliminate distractions so you can concentrate on
the message

• Remember the conversation and act on it

• Show willingness and do listen carefully even if you don’t want to

• Provide the speaker with appropriate verbal and non-verbal feedback

• Last but not the least, use a memory devices such as taking notes to help you recall
the message later
 REFERENCES
Websites:
• https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/listening-types.html
• http://changingminds.org/techniques/listening/types_listening.htm
• https://www.slideshare.net/smileyriaz/listening-skills-11545165
• https://www.slideshare.net/Hubakhan3/listening-skills-71370905
Book:
• Business communication and ethics (HS-304) By Ms. Hina Manzoor