1. Listening is important because . . a.

Since the rise of the radio and the development of television, the spoken word has regained much of its lost stature. b. Being listened to means we are taken seriously, our ideas and feelings are known, and, ultimately, what we have to say matters. c. Generous listening enhances our own well-being and is the natural perspective of psychology, in which all human behavior is seen as motivated by the agendas of the self. d. We learn our culture largely through listening; we learn to think by listening; we learn to love by listening; we learn about ourselves by listening. e. Being listened to spells the difference between feeling accepted and feeing isolated. f. In our society, listening is essential to the development and survival of the individual. g. Most people will not really listen or pay attention to your point of view until they become convinced you have heard and appreciate theirs

2. How to become a better listener: a. Ask yourself some questions to be a better listener
Listener Analysis of Self 1. What is my purpose in listening? gain information and understanding make a critical decision based on the speaker s presentation.Think about your listening behavior when a teacher announces This material will be on the next test. By recognizing why you are listening, you can better analyze the message. If the message has personal importance, you will be more likely to give it your attention. 2. Am I impartial about the topic being presented? Set aside your prior feelings until the speaker has had a chance to develop a position. Suspend judgment until all of the ideas have been developed. 3. How much do I know about the topic? Not a lot, you can better direct your attention to listening. A lot already, be prepared to compare the speaker s information to your knowledge. 4. What do I expect from this message? Don t burden the speaker with expectations that the person is not prepar ed to fulfill. 5. What do I know about the speaking situation? Get set for the expecting length of the message, whether there will be Q&A, whether you ll have to give a response.

6. What can I expect from the listening environment? Become aware of the physical environment: temperature and sounds of the room. Deal with them before the message, if possible. If not, at least you can put them in perspective. 7. What trigger words or ideas cause me to stray from the listening situation? Take note of special words that seem to pull you away from the speaker s message. Look them up in a dictionary afterward. Listener Analysis of Speaker 1. What do I know about this speaker? If your previous experience with the speaker has been favorable, you will be more likely to be receptive to the message. If you have had a disagreement with the person or if the person is someone you do not respect, you may allow that prior knowledge to filter and color the way you understand the message. Without listening carefully, you may never consider worthwhile ideas which deserve your attention. 2. How believable is the speaker? You need to listen for the main ideas presented; the detail will follow. If you know that the speaker has reported false information, you should weigh that when consideringand evaluating the message after it has been fully presented. 3. Has the speaker prepared for the occasion by conducting adequate research and by considering relationships among ideas? 4. Is the evidence sound? 5. Does he/she address critical issues? 6. What is the speaker s attitude toward this presentation? 7. Look for behaviors that give clues. Listener Analysis of Message 1. What are the main ideas of the speech? 2. How are the main ideas arranged? 3. What sorts of supporting materials are used to develop the main ideas? 4. If there is a discrepancy between your knowledge and the ideas presented by the speaker, find out why it exists. This should help you clarify the differences and reach a conclusion about the validity of the total message. 5. Are they valid and appropriate? 6. Are they used credibly? 7. Review, relate, and anticipate.

8. Review what the speaker has said. i. Take a few seconds to summarize the content of the message, to think about the way the materials have been developed. Mentally add to the summary review each time the speaker initiates a new topic for consideration. 9. Relate the message to what you already know. i. Consider how important the message is to you and how you might use the information at some future time. 10. Anticipate what the speaker might say next. i. Given the development of the materials to that point, what is the speaker likely to say next? Use the anticipation stage as a way of continuing to focus on the content of the message. It s not important if you are right or wrong-the important element is that you have directed your attention to the message. 11. By reviewing, relating, and anticipating you can use up the extra time generated by the speech-thought lag and keep your attention focused on the message.

Tips for speakers: How to make your audience listen more a. Overall: Make connections to what they already know. b. Planning tips
1. Cover the issues that are important to the audience 2. Use a pattern that makes sense to the audience 3. Use previews, transitions, internal summaries and signposts to make the structure conspicuous. 4. Use support material that is memorable and valid 5. Limit non-essential details that may throw listeners off track. 6. Stick to their expectations length, format, topic. 7. Give an agenda and stick to it

a. Make it interesting
8. Set realistic goals 9. Get their attention and keep 10. Use variety support, delivery everything 11. Use stories and examples liberally. It is better to say a lot about a little than a little about a lot.

12. Whatever tires you will certainly tire them. 13. When speaking to a non-technical audience (outside our your specialty), generalize at a level that makes you squirm. 14. Be fluid in your delivery. 15. Use nonverbals that support your message. 16. Make your delivery appropriate to the topic and occasion.

a. Make it fit the audience

17. If things are working, change even in the middle of the presentation.

18. Add examples, comments, etc. that are unique to your audie nce or occasion 19. Put yourself in their seat remember what it s like to be a listener.