Introduction to the Speechmaking Process
Michele Serra, October 25, 2012
Chapter 2
Introduction to
Critical Listening
Stages
If speaking is silver, listening is gold.
-Turkish Proverb
 The most important language skill
 We listen first, then speak, read, and write
 Listening is the foundation
… but listening is not automatic!
Agenda
1
Stages
2
Styles
3
Improvement Strategies
4
Become a Critical Listener
Stages
Percentage of Time Listening
70% Communicating
30% Not Communicating
Speaking 30%
Listening 45%
Reading
16%
Writing
9%
Stages
5 Stages of the Critical Listening Process
1
Hearing
(Sensation)
2
5
Critical
Response
(Feedback)
Selection
(Sorting)
Listening
Process
4
3
Evaluation
(Assessment)
Interpretation
(Meaning)
Stages
Stage 1: Hearing (Sensation)
Hearing is an automatic mechanical process
Hearing is about Noise
Listening is about Meaning
Stages
It all starts with protecting your hearing
Listening Devices:
 No more than 70% volume
 No longer than 4.5 hours
 Protect hearing in
environments over 90
decibels. (hair dryer,
lawnmower are 90 dB)
(Time Magazine, 02/09)
Noise Induced Hearing
Loss (NIHL)
 Sound receptors called cilia cannot
regenerate once destroyed
 If destroyed, affects hearing and
balance
Stages
Stage 2: Selection (Sorting)
Noise
 Choose what you will attend to from the
mass of sounds and input.
Content
 Be selective, but listen to the entire
message before rejecting all or part.
Stages
Stage 3: Interpretation (Meaning)
We all rely on intrapersonal inputs and filters including:
 History
 Values
 Needs
 Culture
 Intelligence
 Wants
 Beliefs
 Attitudes
 Fears
Everyone’s frame of reference is unique
“Why do people feel so
strongly about one
candidate vs. the
other?”
Stages
Stage 4: Evaluation (Assessment)
Goal is to
understand the
meaning of the
message
Evaluation
Motivation high
from desire to
add to
knowledge
Suspending
judgment to
grasp intent of
speaker & depth
of material
Stages
Stage 5. Responses (Feedback)
Internal: Arise from interpretation/evaluation
 May occur at anytime during speech
 Thoughts and conclusions arising in your mind
External: Feedback, verbal, questions, comments
 Non-verbal, shaking head, looking confused or bored.
 Backchanneling – nonverbal vocal cues, “Uh-huh”
 Includes questions and comments
Agenda
1
Stages
2
Styles
3
Improvement Strategies
4
Become a Critical Listener
Styles
6 Styles of Listening
1 - Reluctant
6 - Critical
2 - Aggressive
Listening
Styles
3 - Appreciative
5 - Comprehensive
4 - Empathetic
Styles
Style 1: Reluctant
Listening out
of obligation
Low
Motivation
Reluctant
Counteract
with discipline,
notes,
association
Distasteful or
boring
experience
Styles
Style 2: Aggressive
Nonlistening
style
Low
motivation
to listen
Opinionated
biased pointof-view
Aggressive
Argument
rehearsals
More
emotional
than critical
thinking
Styles
Style 3: Appreciative
Attentive,
responsive,
higher
retention
Interested
in message,
music,
content
Still need to
think
objectively
Appreciative
High
motivation
to listen
Use listening
skills
Styles
Style 4: Empathic
Put yourself
“in the
speaker’s
shoes”
High
motivation
to listen
Empathic
No advisegiving,
unless asked
Connect with
their
thoughts and
feelings
Nonjudgmental
listening
Styles
Style 5: Comprehensive
Goal is to
understand the
meaning of the
message
Comprehensive
Motivation
high from
desire to add to
knowledge
Suspend
judgment to
grasp intent &
depth
Styles
Style 6: Critical
Questioning,
responsive
mind-set
Motivation
comes from
desire to
understand
Critical
Consider full
message
before
judging
Fair-minded
attitude
whether pro,
con, neutral
Determine if
message is
valid and
supported
Agenda
1
Stages
2
Styles
3
Improvement Strategies
4
Become a Critical Listener
Improvement Strategies
Listening Improvement Strategies
4 Steps to Improve Critical Listening
Improve Hearing
Channel
Become
Motivated
 Eliminate noise
& distractions
 Relate to
topic
 Stay alert,
avoid fatigue
 Expand
interest
 Study topic
ahead of time
Take Notes
Listen for
Key Words
 Note-takers
remember 1.5
times more
after 6 weeks
 Don’t try to
write the
entire
message
 Those who
don’t , forget
80% of
lectures after
2 weeks
 Listen for
main points
and central
ideas
Improvement Strategies
Managing Distractions
Speaker’s appearance, language, mannerisms, personality:
Do:
 Focus on message
 Ignore trivialities
Don’t
 Seek distractions to stray from message
 Overly criticize speaker, daydream, chat , fake attention
“Choose self-discipline to listen.”
Improvement Strategies
Managing Distractions
Your beliefs, attitudes and values are triggered:
Do

Steer away from mental rebuttals

Respect presenters and event
Don’t

Focus solely on your frame of reference
“Choose self-discipline to listen.”
Improvement Strategies
Managing Distractions
Topic seems too challenging, boring, irrelevant:
Do
 Keep an open mind to learn new and
thought-provoking information
 Relate it to something you know.
Don’t
 Do not dismiss topic as unimportant
 Avoid prejudging until hearing entire message
“Choose self-discipline to listen.”
Managing Distractions
Overcome Thought Speed:
Speaking Speed = 125 - 150 wpm
Listening Speed = 400 wpm
 Listeners can think 4X faster than
speakers can talk, so minds wander
Counteract:
 Take notes
 Anticipate speaker’s next point
 Analyze logic and evidence of message
Improvement Strategies
Managing Distractions
Overcome Automatic Talking
Learn why people talk without listening
Agenda
1
Stages
2
Styles
3
Improvement Strategies
4
Become a Critical Listener
Become a Critical Listener
Everything you hear is an opportunity to listen!
Whether in a conversation, at meeting, attending a
presentation or watching the news, always:
 Exercise an open mind
 Resist distractions
 Take notes
 Withhold judgment until hearing entire message
Q&A
Questions & Answers
 What did you learn today that you didn’t already know?
 How will critical listening impact you the most?
 What do you plan to change first?