effective listening

-week 5

discriminative listening

understanding literal sounds & cues - tone, pitch or body language; often used to interpret speaker’s mood/meaning beyond words

comprehensive listening

focused on understanding message being communicated; relies on vocabulary, language skills, & cognitive ability

empathetic listening

listening to provide emotional support by fully understanding the speaker’s feelings w/o judgement

critical listening

involves evaluating & analyzing message for logic, credibility, & truth; commonly used in persuasive/argumentative contexts

appreciative listening

listening for enjoyment/aesthetic, such as music, poetry, or compelling speaker

environmental noise

external sounds that distract/block effective communication; i.e. loud traffic, constructions, or chatter

physiological barriers

physical conditions like hearing loss, fatigue, or illness that interfere w one’s ability to listen effectively

psychological barriers

mental states such as stress, anxiety, bias, or preoccupation that limit full attention & understanding

selective attention

focusing only on parts of message that align w personal interests/view, while ignoring the rest

confirmation bias

tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs & ignore/dismiss contradictory viewpoints

prejudging

forming opinions about speaker or message before fully hearing, often leading to biased or incomplete listening

pseudo-listening

pretending to listen by giving appearance of attention - nodding, eye contact - w/o processing message

multitasking

attempting to do multiple things while listening, which reduces presence & leads to poor comprehension/missed details

noise

any internal/external factor that distorts/disrupts message, including environmental, physiological, & psychological interference

open-ended questions

questions that invite elaboration & can’t be answered w simple “yes” or “no” - often start with who, what, when, where, why, or how

clarification

act of asking for or offering more detail or specificity to ensure accurate understanding off what’s being communicated

go with the flow

letting go your own intrusive thoughts & staying gully engaged w speaker instead of planning your response mid-convo

be present

fully mentally & emotionally engaged in conversation w/o distractions/drifting thoughts

don’t pontificate

avoiding lectures/one-sided opinions; instead, engage openly & allow room for dialogue & discovery

avoid moralizing

listening w/o judgment - accepting vulnerability & flaws rather than correcting/condemning

separate disagreement from criticism

disagreeing respectfully w/o making speaker feel personally attacked - valuing person even if opinion differs

active listening

listening style that involves full engagement, using feedback eye contact & verbal cues to show understanding & presence

paraphrasing

restating what speaker said in your own words to confirm understanding & clarify meaning

conversational competence

ability to engage in effective, balanced conversation; i.e. listening, turn-taking, & adapting to context

listening v. hearing

hearing = passive (perceiving sound); listening = active (processing & responding to meaning)

thought speed v. speaking speed

can listen at 500 words/min but speak at 225 words/min; gap often causes distractions/mind-wandering

socratic listening

reflective listening style inspired by socrates; asking thoughtful questions to help others explore their beliefs more deeply

strategic “mmm” response

subtle nonverbal cue that communicates empathy & encourages speaker to continue, w/o interrupting

socialized egoism

tendency in conversation to focus on oneself rather than truly engaging w the other person’s thoughts/feelings

coherent conversation

dialogue in which both participants listen, respond meaningfully, & build on each other’s thoughts to create mutual understanding