Effective Communication: Listen Actively - Term Paper Example

Listen Actively Communication is transactional thus it requires both the source and the receiver to participate actively to ensure its success. Success in a communicative act is assumed to have taken place when both elements (the source and the speaker) have fully understood the message sent and a particular action is taken. However, factors such as the individual's communication skills, knowledge, attitude, the social system and culture of each participating element affect the quality of message sent and receive. Because of this, both the source and the receiver are required to have a good understanding of these factors. Otherwise communication breakdown anywhere during the communicative act may transpire, which eventually, may put a stop to the communicative act. People communicate for varied reasons: to get acquainted with others, to express emotions to others, to share information, to influence others' views or to build relationships. Furthermore, it may take several forms. It may be within the individual or what has been known as intrapersonal communication; between two persons or dyadic communication; among three or more people or group communication; and to a group or persons or public communication. Whatever form or medium a communicative act takes, as previously stated, the person's identity is partially shared during the act. It is pertinent then that others are set as the point of reference in the communicative act. In a sense one needs to learn to empathize or put oneself to another person's shoes to identify with the other person's perceptions and feelings. To do this, one should listen actively. It seems crucial to define listening at this point. Simply put, listening is a combination of what is heard, what is understood, what is remembered. Listening goes beyond the reception of the spoken words by the faculty of hearing; it is a cognitive process. Listening is a term referring to "a whole group of mental processes which enable us to interpret the meanings of messages."1 As a process, it is affected by one's "perception, comprehension and other mental reactions.2 Listening is much more complicated than how people perceive it to be. As a result, a number of individuals listening to another person, most of the time, have misconceptions about the process. Among these misconceptions are the following: listening is easy, improving reading ability also improves listening skills, engaging in listening activities daily eliminates special training for listening and listening ability is related to the intelligence of the listener.3 As stated earlier, the listening process is affected by factors other than a person's cognitive skills. A person listens with his experiences and his emotional as well as his psychological capacities. Furthermore, engaging in listening activities without having a full grasp of the process will still result to poor listening skills. It is also important to note that as one listens during a communicative act, interpretation of the message receive does not only depend on the verbal but on the non-verbal (facial expression, gestures and bodily movements, use of space, frequency of touch [if it is in the context of a dyadic and group communication], and other cues other than the verbal message), but on a person's understanding of these forms. There are certain colloquial or slanted languages that may be taken either positively or negatively, depending on where the receiver is coming from. Likewise, certain non-verbal cues such as kissing an acquaintance is not well accepted in Asian countries as it is in European countries. Culture as indicated also plays a great role in the acceptance of the message sent. How should one listen then Pace, Peterson and Burnett (1979) identify the following techniques and their consequent effects to the communicative act and the individual:4 The first is using supportive feedback, a technique for revealing one's reactions and feelings about situations and individuals. Through supportive feedback a person becomes sensitive to the realities of interpersonal relationships. How the persons involved are affected by each others' behavior is revealed in the interchange of feelings. This results to a more open communication. Whenever this technique is employed genuine, supportive and trusting relationships are encouraged. Another technique is the use of E-prime Language. E-prime language seems to find its greatest value in changing a person's style of thinking and responding. It represents the standard English language without the forms of the verb to be (is, are, am, was, shall be, will be). A simple example would be: "Patrick is kind," which may be phrased as "Kindness exists in Patrick." Instead of being understood as asserting descriptions of qualities a person may possess, such statement indicates personal evaluations concerning the other person. In effect, using E-prime language will eliminate the assumption that words actually are the things they represent. Responding nondirectively, on the other hand, involves three types of reactions: the use of open questions, uh-huh, and content reflection. The most nondirective response possible is an anticipating, inquiring silence. Staring blankly while the other person speaks differs from such reaction as may be indicated by the direction of the gaze of the person listening, the eye movement and facial expression. Content reflection involves repeating, mirroring, or echoing the content of a statement made by another person. Though not as forceful as the previously cited techniques, responding nondirectively can establish acceptance of an idea through the gentle process of responding. Paraphrasing, another technique that may be employed in listening, is restating ideas sent by the source. Through this method one may be certain whether the intended message is received as it is. Its necessity and effectiveness are seen in that people selectively perceive things based on its experiences with those things. Thus paraphrasing increases accuracy and clarity in communication that are created by selective perception. Another technique that one may use is to ask guiding questions. Such technique may be employed when engaging in a face-to-face interaction since this technique may elicit a narrower range of responses from another person. It is most effective in situations in which a time has been set to build a base of agreement, such as during interviews or dyadic communication. There are situations when a person's worth is measured, to some extent, and translated into as words spoken during the communicative act. To behave assertively is still another technique one may use in such situations. This technique helps to increase a person's sense of personal worth at the same time avoiding a self-demeaning and hostile approach to others. A person who behaves assertively tends to feel confident and positive toward others. Assertiveness may establish acceptance of ideas and motivate others to take action. CONCLUSION Employing the techniques in effective listening serves as a foundation for stronger relationships. Effective listening establishes acceptance of ideas as well as the person from whom the ideas came from, builds trust and, as a result, may convince the other person to take actions as determined by the source. Since communication is as vital and constant as change, and since listening plays a crucial role in the success of the communicative act, hence it is inevitable that active listening be practiced at all times. Works Cited: 1 Baird, Craig A. and Knower, Franklin H. (1968). "Listening." Essentials of General Speech, Third Edition, p 59. 2 Ibid, p 60. 3 Bacal, Robert (2006). "Myths About Listening," Communication Improvement Free Research Center. Accessed on 05 April 2008 from 4Pace, R. Wayne, Peterson, Brent D. and Burnett, Dallas M. (1979). Techniques for Effective Communication. Philippines: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. Read More