CHAPTER 1

Listening Skills

• Listening is more important than speaking, yet often undervalued.
• Listening is active, requiring full participation; hearing is passive.
• Attention can wander since speech is slower than thought.

Types of Listening

• Marginal Listening: Minimal attention; often leads to misunderstandings.
• Evaluative Listening: Focused on critiquing the message rather than understanding; an obstacle to communication.
• Projective Listening: Full engagement with the speaker's perspective; essential for effective communication.

Listening vs Hearing

• Hearing: Passive reception of sounds.
• Listening: Active engagement requiring concentration, understanding, and memory.
• Effective listening techniques include anticipation, preparation, and active note-taking.

Communication Theory

• Study of communication theory enhances skills by providing insights into the communication process.
• Communication is a two-way process involving transmission and feedback.

Types of Communication

• Interpersonal Communication: Talk between individuals; includes verbal and non-verbal cues.
• Intrapersonal communication: Internal dialogue or self-communication.
• Extra personal Communication: Interaction between humans and non-humans (e.g., animals).
• Mass medium Communication: Broadcasting to larger audiences through various media.

Characteristics of Communication

• Inevitability: Communication occurs continuously, intentionally or not.
• Irreversibility: Once communicated, messages cannot be retracted.

Problems and Barriers in Communication

• Factors influencing communication include sender/receiver emotions, unclear messages, inadequate encoding, and misunderstandings.
• Common Barriers: Boredom, poor listening, distractions, prejudice, differing perceptions.

Overcoming Barriers

• Strategies include improving perceptions, avoiding jargon, choosing words carefully, monitoring emotions, and simplifying messages.