Chapter Two
Listeners and
Speakers
Chapter Two
Table of Contents
Understanding the Listening Process
Barriers to Active Listening
Becoming a More Active Listener
Active Listening and Critical Thinking
Guidelines for Evaluating Speeches and
Presentations*
Listeners and Speakers
It is the listener and speaker together
who truly make a speech.
The continual feedback between
speaker and listener is called circular
response.*
Understanding the Listening
Process
Hearing is the physiological process of
perceiving sounds.
Listening is the conscious act of
recognizing, understanding, and
accurately interpreting communicated
messages.
While hearing is largely reflexive or
automatic, listening is selective and
discriminating.*
Understanding the Listening
Process
Listening is Selective
Bridging the Message-Perception Gap*
Understanding the Listening Process:
Listening is Selective
Selective perception is the process by
which people pay attention to certain
messages and ignore others.
We pay attention to what we hold to be
important.
We pay attention to information that touches
our experience and background.
We sort and filter information on the basis of
what we already know.*
Understanding the Listening Process:
Bridging the Message-Perception Gap
The fact that no two people will interpret
a message in exactly the same way can
lead to misunderstandings, or a
message-perception gap.*
Barriers to Active Listening
Active listening is
focused, purposeful
thinking which is a
multi-step process of
gathering and
evaluating information.*
Barriers to Active Listening
Obstacles to active
listening:
Inattentiveness
and distractions
External
distractions
Internal
distractions*
Barriers to Active Listening
Scriptwriting and Defensive Listening
Laziness and Overconfidence
Cultural Barriers
Listening Anxiety (Receiver
Apprehension)*
Barriers to Active Listening:
Scriptwriting and Defensive Listening
People who are “scriptwriters” are thinking
about what they, and not the speaker, will
say next.
Defensive listening usually occurs when
we sense that our attitudes and opinions
are being challenged.*
Barriers to Active Listening:
Laziness and Overconfidence
Laziness and overconfidence can occur
when we expect too little from speakers,
ignore important information, or display an
arrogant attitude.*
Barriers to Active Listening:
Cultural Barriers
Differences in dialects, accents, nonverbal
cues, word choice, and even physical
appearance can serve as barriers to
listening.
Do not judge speakers on their
appearances, but rather on the content of
what they are saying.*
Barriers to Active Listening:
Listening Anxiety (Receiver Apprehension)
Just as speech anxiety hampers one’s
ability to prepare and deliver a speech,
listening anxiety reduces our own ability to
concentrate on and recall information.
Listening anxiety usually occurs when
people feel insecure.*
Becoming a More Active Listener
Active listeners use
their eyes as well as
their ears.*
Becoming a More Active Listener
Set Listening Goals
Listen for Main Ideas
Watch for Nonverbal Cues*
Becoming a More Active Listener:
Set Listening Goals
Why are you
listening?
What do you need
and expect?*
Becoming a More Active Listener:
Listen for Main Ideas
Listen for the speaker’s organizational
pattern.
Listen for introductions, transitions, and
conclusions.
Watch for a direct eye gaze.
Take notes of the speaker’s main points.*
Becoming a More Active Listener:
Watch for Nonverbal Cues
Much of a speaker’s message is
communicated nonverbally through:
Body language
Facial expressions
Stance and posture*
Active Listening and Critical
Thinking
Critical thinking is the ability to
evaluate claims on the basis of
well-supported reasons.*
Active Listening and
Critical Thinking
Evaluate the evidence.
Analyze assumptions and biases.
Resist false dilemmas,
overgeneralizations, and either-or
thinking.
Consider multiple perspectives.
Assess an argument’s logic.
Summarize and judge.*
Guidelines for Evaluating
Speeches and Presentations
By critically evaluating the speeches of
others, you’ll be able to better assess
your own strengths and weaknesses as
a speaker.*
Guidelines for Evaluating
Speeches and Presentations
Be Honest and Fair in Your Evaluation
Adjust to the Speaker’s Style
Be Compassionate in Your Criticism*
Guidelines for Evaluating Speeches and Presentations:
Be Honest and Fair in Your Evaluation
It is important to
remain open to
ideas and beliefs
that differ from
your own.*
Guidelines for Evaluating Speeches and Presentations:
Adjust to the Speaker’s Style
Maintaining respect
for all types and
styles of speakers
is a sign of good
listening.*
Guidelines for Evaluating Speeches and Presentations:
Be Compassionate in Criticizing
Be constructive:
Start by saying
something positive.
Focus on the speech,
not the speaker.
Target your criticism.*