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Understanding Selective Listening

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51 views5 pages

Understanding Selective Listening

Uploaded by

sultan kasim
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Selective

Being selective Gaining understanding always requires a certain amount of selectivity. Some
words carry more information than others. For example, you can extract most of the articles and
prepositions from a sentence and it will still (mostly) make sense — you can often do without
many of the pronouns and adjectives too. (‘Can extract articles prepositions from sentence, will
make sense.’) When you are trying to understand what someone is saying, you will automatically
attempt to identify the words, phrases, gestures and tones that carry the most significance. In
doing this, there is always a danger that you are highlighting the wrong things. The Greek word
exegesis means to lead or to guide out of something. It is used in textual or scriptural analysis to
describe the process of trying to understand what the words of a document would have meant to
the writer or the intended audience within the timeframe and context in which they were written.
In the same way, the task of a comprehensive listener is to work out what the words mean to the
person speaking them. The opposite of exegesis is eisegesis, which means to lead into
something. This describes the practice of reading your own meaning into someone else’s words
based on your own context and presuppositions. This can lead to partial or selective listening in
which you only pay attention to the things you are expecting to hear. In order to counter this, you
first need to be aware of your own assumptions about what is significant and then you need to
actively listen for indications that your assumptions are inappropriate. Getting other people’s
perspectives can be helpful in this process, as can a good grounding in career theories

BARRIERS TO LISTENING This handout talks through a number of different barriers to


listening. As you’re reading through them – identify if any of the barriers apply to you. Do some
apply when you are listening to certain people! Selective listening We all listen selectively at
some time or other. It is a necessary skill in order to survive in often very noisy environments,
however our selectivity can sometimes be based on two things. 1) our preconceptions about the
other person 2) our preconceptions about the importance of what’s being said Identifying any
preconceptions before the review meeting will help reduce this barrier. Talking speed vs speed of
thought There is a considerable difference between the speed at which people talk and the speed
at which they think. The average person speaks at about 125 words per minute, whereas thinking
speed is in the region of 500 words per minute. We all think a lot faster than we realise! The
result is that when listening to someone we are continually jumping ahead of what is actually
being said. Try to avoid jumping to conclusions in the review meeting. Keep an open mind! Lack
of interest This could be due to lack of interest in the individual speaking or being distracted by
things that are happening to you personally (e.g. poorly child, deadline for research project
funding/reporting) Remember, the review meeting is the opportunity for the reviewee to talk
about themselves, their thoughts and feelings. Beliefs and attitudes We all have opinions on a
variety of current issues; we feel strongly about certain subjects; we value certain behaviours.
How do you react when someone inadvertently challenges your beliefs and attitudes? Try to
avoid getting emotional particularly in the review situation, remember, the review is about the
reviewee not you! Reactions to speaker Our reactions to the person speaking rather than what
they are saying can cause us to listen less effectively. Our preconceptions Our preconceptions
often mean we don’t even give another person a chance to speak. We can prejudge what they
have to say. The implication of this behaviour is that it implies we don’t value what they might
have to offer. The words we hear Over-repetition of words and phrases is one distraction, the use
of unfamiliar (e.g. jargon) words is another. Another important point to remember is that words
can mean different things to different people. Good – to one person may mean only just
acceptable, to another it might mean ‘perfect’. Physical distractions This can come in a number
of different guises and ranges from the background noises that are going on (i.e. a telephone
ringing or a fire engine racing down the road), whether we are physically comfortable (i.e. too
warm, too cold, the seat is uncomfortable – too high/too low, thirsty), the lighting in the room, to
distracting pictures on the wall. Some distractions are within our control (i.e telephone calls) and
where possible it’s important to try and stop them from becoming distractions (e.g. divert all
calls). Adapted from Listening Skills, Ian Mackay, Management Shapers, 2000

3
Selective Listening Explained

posted by Anna Mar, May 30, 2013

What is it?

Conventional wisdom says that the goal of listening is to fully understand what someone is
saying.

In practice, people don't always fully listen.

People make choices when listening. They apply filters. They half-listen to get a general
impression of what's said.

Definition: Selective Listening

Selective listening is a listening technique that filters and summarizes to achieve


comprehension.

Selective Listening Explained

Selective listening is like a student with a highlighter.

When students study for a test they commonly use a highlighter to focus on key ideas in a
textbook. They might skim over text that doesn't seem critical but focus on text that gets to the
point.

The following are common features of selective listening:


 Multitasking
Giving listening less than full attention. For example, planning what you're going to say
while someone is talking.

 Skimming
Deciding when to retain important information and when to ignore non-critical
information.

 Prioritizing
Focusing on high priority information (e.g. when your boss speaks).

 Summarizing
Developing a general impression of what is said rather than memorizing an accurate
account.

Is Selective Listening A Bad Habit?

Selective listening has a reputation as being a bad habit.

It's certainly a bad way to build rapport. People tend to know if you're fully listening to them.
They tend to feel insulted if they catch you drifting off when they're talking.

Selective listening isn't as accurate as devoting your fully attention to everything that's said.

Despite these disadvantages, it's widely practiced.


It does have potential advantages. Selective listening allows you to filter and summarize
information while multitasking.

Common questions

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Selective listening impacts communication accuracy negatively, as it involves filtering and summarizing information rather than fully understanding it. This can lead to misinterpretations or incomplete understanding . Additionally, it hampers rapport-building, as people tend to feel ignored or undervalued when the listener is not fully attentive, making them feel insulted . However, selective listening can help manage information overload by allowing multitasking and focusing on critical points .

Preconceptions can significantly affect listening quality by leading to selective listening where one only hears what they expect to hear. This can prevent the listener from giving the speaker a full chance to communicate, potentially missing valuable insights . Prejudge based on these preconceptions can also imply disrespect or undervaluing the speaker's input . Recognizing and setting aside these preconceptions is crucial for effective listening .

The Greek word 'exegesis' implies a methodical process of interpretation where the listener seeks to understand what the speaker's words would mean to them, their context, and intended audience at the time . It involves guiding the listener out of their presuppositions to grasp the speaker’s original meaning . This contrasts with 'eisegesis,' which involves projecting one's interpretations based on personal biases .

There is a significant difference between listening and thinking speeds because people talk at about 125 words per minute, whereas thinking occurs at about 500 words per minute . This disparity allows for the mental energy to wander, often leading to jumping to conclusions or forming ungrounded assumptions, affecting comprehension as one might miss critical parts of the message while thinking ahead instead of listening actively .

'Skimming' in listening refers to the process of identifying and focusing on the most crucial pieces of information while ignoring non-critical elements . 'Prioritizing' involves giving attention to high-priority information, such as instructions from a boss, while filtering out less critical details . These techniques are useful in situations where comprehensive listening to every detail is impractical, such as during multitasking or when time management is crucial .

To counteract physical distractions, one can control their environment by minimizing noise, adjusting comfort elements like seating and lighting, and eliminating other disruptors such as diverting phone calls . Being aware of these distracters can allow individuals to mitigate their impact and focus better on listening .

Emotions can significantly distort effective listening by causing the listener to react defensively or emotionally rather than understanding the speaker's point . If a speaker inadvertently challenges one's beliefs, this can lead to an emotional response rather than an objective analysis of what's being communicated . Maintaining composure and focus on the speaker's message, rather than one's emotional response, is vital for effective listening .

Selective listening is beneficial in that it allows individuals to focus on high-priority information and manage information overload during multitasking . However, it can be detrimental because it leads to misunderstandings and negatively affects the relationship with the speaker, as selective listening tends not to build rapport well . It's important for effective communication to balance full attention and selective listening based on the context .

Multitasking and selective listening often occur together, where individuals give less than full attention to listening, thus relying on selective hearing to manage workload . While this can help in managing multiple tasks, it may result in lower retention of detailed information and can impair the complete understanding of the speaker's message due to distractions . This practice can disrupt meaningful communication by missing subtle cues or details .

Overuse of certain words or phrases, as well as the use of unfamiliar jargon, can distract listeners and reduce their attention span, influencing their overall comprehension . Familiar words with different meanings can lead to misunderstandings if the listener interprets them differently than intended . Effective communication requires clear and considerate language to ensure the intended message is accurately conveyed and understood .

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