LISTENING SKILLS

Listening Skills



Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze my listening skills and discuss their importance in the business environment. The paper discusses my strengths and weaknesses, and how listening skills can help improve the weaknesses.

Questions

What did your score say about your listening skills? Were you surprised by the outcome?

My listening skills self evaluation test resulted with score 102. It was surprising because I assumed my listening skills are not so good.

What are your strengths and weaknesses when listening to others?

My strengths would be that I am an active listener. I feel I can communicate with women very effectively because I always know one question would keep them talking. Besides that I have good facial expressions so I can communicate through them silently when they are discussing their point of view. Facial expressions are very important I believe because it gives other people this feeling that you are listening to them. It gives confirming nod here and there. I most of the time remember what people say to me and in which context he or she is talking. I listen 95% of the time and I think that is a healthy sign of a good listener (Jian Wang, 2002).

My weakness can be that I get frustrated when other person is not listening when I am speaking. Such people want to talk about themselves always. I possess good listening but I tend to lose them when I am tired or had a tough day. In this situation I usually force myself to focus on others talk. Still I think I listen to them decently and do not turn my back on them. Besides I do not have habit of talking much so other person may feel weird when I do not respond to their concerns. One major weakness of mine is that when something bores me I pretend to be interested in their talks. In a while I end up blocking them and start thinking about something else in a way that they feel I am listening to them. I fiddle my hair a lot while listening and maintain eye contact all the time. I feel this gesture of mine sometimes confuses others and effect their communication.

How can you improve your listening skills to strengthen your weaknesses?

Most people consider themselves to pay attention to what they are told. Unfortunately, many learn the hard way that they are not. Result can be they face costly problems and their life suffers as well. It is important to understand that communication, your goal should always be to understand, not to be understood. Some studies have shown that most people only listen to 25% of what they are told (Baron Sara 2001).  In order to strengthen my weaknesses, and utilize and apply my strengths to my profession I will do the following:

I must also clear the mind from other thoughts or concerns to be able to concentrate better on what is being said.

I should also be free from any bias on their appearance to avoid the ...