Business Communication: In Person, In Print, Online
by Newman, Amy, 10th edition
Active listening. Hearing and understanding both subtle and direct messages, and communicating that one is doing this.
a.How well do I listen to members?
b.How attentive am I to nonverbal language?
c.Am I able to hear both overt and subtle messages?
d.Do I teach members how to listen and respond?
In 250-500 words please reflect on any areas of potential growth you may have .
Active Listening
Name
Institution
Course
Instructor
Date
Active Listening
- How well do I listen to members?
I listen by paying attention to the speaker. I maintain eye contact and try to put aside interrupting and destructing thoughts. I also try to show the speaker that I’m listening by nodding, responding and interjecting if necessary, and showing a relevant facial expression and smiling. I also defer judgment and unnecessary interruptions while listening to allow the speaker to finish his/her point.
- How attentive am I to nonverbal language?
I pay attention to some nonverbal language, particularly eye contact, tonal variation, and body posture or behavior. Though I might not always interpret them correctly, sometimes I ask for clarification from the speaker. This might not make me a perfect listener to nonverbal cues, but I am attentive to them to some extent. The tone is particularly very effective in informing me about how others feel during a conversation (Newman, 2017).
- Am I able to hear both overt and subtle messages?
Yeah, I am able to understand both messages. Overt messages are directly said about something and are obvious, while subtle ones are hidden messages that one can only interpret from the physical portrayal of the message (Newman, 2017). For instance, an advert might say that a certain soap can remove up to 99.9% of germs in a picture of a family with a child, mother, and grandmother. Germ removal could be overt, but the part of a generational family may mean that it has been there for generations or it is good for any age group.
- Do I teach members how to listen and respond?
I have not actively been involved in teaching people how to listen and respond. However, I have done in form of advice. I try to tell junior students in my circle to try to listen to their teachers by keeping eye contact. I advise them to resist interruptions and imagination of other things while listening.
References
Newman, A. (2017). Business communication: In person, in print, online. Cengage Learning.