The main types of listening we will discuss are discriminative, informational, critical, and empathetic (Watson et al., 1–13). For example, when we listen to empathize with others, our communication will likely be supportive and open, which will then lead the other person to feel heard and supported and hopefully view the interaction positively (Bodie and Villaume, 48). The type of listening we engage in affects our communication and how others respond to us. Listening serves many purposes, and different situations require different types of listening. to engage in negotiation, dialogue, or other exchanges that result in shared understanding of or agreement on an issue.to empathize with others and show we care for them (relational maintenance), and.to indicate that we are interested or paying attention,.to critically evaluate other people’s messages,.to better our understanding of other people’s communication,.to focus on messages sent by other people or noises coming from our surroundings,.The following list reviews some of the main functions of listening that are relevant in multiple contexts: Emotional support in the form of empathetic listening and validation during times of conflict can help relational partners manage common stressors of relationships that may otherwise lead a partnership to deteriorate (Milardo and Helms-Erikson, 37). Empathetic listening can help us expand our self- and social awareness by learning from other people’s experiences and by helping us take on different perspectives. We shouldn’t underestimate the power of listening to make someone else feel better and to open our perceptual field to new sources of information. Listening also has implications for our personal lives and relationships. Training and improvements in listening will continue to pay off as employers desire employees with good communication skills, and employees who have good listening skills are more likely to get promoted. Even though listening education is lacking in our society, research has shown that introductory communication courses provide important skills necessary for functioning in entry-level jobs, including listening, writing, motivating/ persuading, interpersonal skills, informational interviewing, and small-group problem-solving (DiSalvo, 283–90). Poor listening skills, lack of conciseness, and inability to give constructive feedback have been identified as potential communication challenges in professional contexts. Interpersonal communication skills including listening are also highly sought after by potential employers, consistently ranking in the top ten in national surveys, according to the 2011 “Job Outlook” published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. In general, students with high scores for listening ability have greater academic achievement. In terms of academics, poor listening skills were shown to contribute significantly to failure in a person’s first year of college (Zabaya and Wolvin, 215–17). Listening is also important in academic, professional, and personal contexts. In general, listening helps us achieve communication goals: physical, instrumental, relational, and identity. Understanding how listening works provides the foundation we need to explore why we listen, including various types and styles of listening.
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