LISTENING Listening is a receiver’s activity in communication. As the speaker has the responsibility to be understood so the listener has the responsibility to be attentive and to make effort to understand the meaning of the speaker. A manager has to spend more time listening to others than speaking, the ear and not the mouth must be the main organ of communication. A manager has to spend more time listening to others than speaking, the ear and not the mouth must be the main organ of communication. An executive’s communication time is spent roughly in the following proportion: Writing = 9%, Reading = 16%, Speaking = 30 % and listening = 45%. Listening means making effort to get the speakers’s full meaning. It involves not only understanding the content of the message but also understanding the feeling of the speaker. Understanding the speaker is called empathic or active listening.

Many of Objectives of downward communication such as motivation and raising morale can be achieved by listening attentively rather than by talking. Many of Objectives of downward communication such as motivation and raising morale can be achieved by listening attentively rather than by talking. Blocks / Barriers to effective listening: Blocks / Barriers to effective listening: Listening is a mix of physical and mental activity and therefore it can be obstructed by certain physical and psychological barriers. Listening is a mix of physical and mental activity and therefore it can be obstructed by certain physical and psychological barriers. Distraction Distraction Wandering attention Wandering attention Planning to reply Planning to reply Lack of interest Lack of interest Mental laziness Mental laziness Tendency to criticize Tendency to criticize Emotional blocks Emotional blocks Impatience Impatience State of health State of health Poor note taking skill Poor note taking skill Noise. Noise. Prejudice Prejudice

Improving Listening skills. Ten Commandments of good listening: Ten Commandments of good listening: Stop Talking Stop Talking Put the speaker at ease Put the speaker at ease Show a desire to listen Show a desire to listen Do not create or tolerate distractions Do not create or tolerate distractions Be patient Be patient Control your temper no matter how angrily the speaker speaks Control your temper no matter how angrily the speaker speaks Try to be in the speaker’s position Try to be in the speaker’s position Avoid making any judgement unless the speaker has finished speaking. Avoid making any judgement unless the speaker has finished speaking. Ask questions at suitable moments to get a clear understanding Ask questions at suitable moments to get a clear understanding Stop talking, make the mind stop taking. Stop talking, make the mind stop taking.

Process of listening The process of listening involves five related activities: The process of listening involves five related activities: Receiving Receiving Interpretation Interpretation Remembering Remembering Evaluating Evaluating Responding Responding

Types of listening Content Listening Content Listening Critical Listening Critical Listening Empathic Listening Empathic Listening Marginal Listening Marginal Listening Pretended listening Pretended listening

Advantages of good listening Improves communication Improves communication Positive attitude Positive attitude Valuable information Valuable information Solves work problems Solves work problems Improves efficiency Improves efficiency