The Listening Phenomenon

"Listening is the process of receiving, constructing meaning from, and responding to spoken and/or nonverbal messages" (ILA Definition of Listening, 1995)

physiology

PSYCHOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY

COMMUNICATION

Only 7% of any basic communication course focuses on listening instruction

However, 64% of any college student's education instruction requires listening

how we spend the day

• 24% Listening
• 20% Speaking
• 8% Writing
• 6% Reading

The ability to listen effectively is one of the top three skills sought in job applicants and determines promotions (AICPA, 2005)

listening styles

• People Oriented
• Time Oriented
• Action Oriented
• Content Oriented

the listening quad

• Affective
• Cognitive
• Behavioral
• Relational

affective dimension

• How one feels about listening
• How one feels while listening

cognitive dimension

• How one thinks about listening
• How one thinks while listening

Behavioral dimension

• Focuses on the nonverbal and verbal behaviors that show if someone is listening or not

relational dimension

• Combines the affective, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions
• We listen differently in different contexts

hurier model

• Hearing
• Understanding
• Remembering
• Interpreting
• Evaluating
• Responding

Intercultural listening

Low-context cultures are explicit & clear

High-context cultures are general, short, & fast

Low-context cultures

• United States
• Canada
• Australia
• Germany

high-context cultures

• Middle East
• Asia
• Africa
• South America

intercultural listening

• Reduce uncertainty
• Good listening in one culture could be bad listening in another
• Care about relationships with others

LISTENERS ALWAYS HAVE THE LAST WORD