Assignment 3.1: How Well Do You Listen? Quiz Answers (Essay Sample)

Assignment 3.1: How Well Do You Listen?
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Assignment 3.1: How Well Do You Listen?
Listening Quiz Answers
Questions Answers (1=always, 2=frequently, 3=sometimes, 4=seldom, 5=never)1221334455637281
Listening plays an imperative part since it facilitates understanding, compassion and it also facilitates comprehension. Studies that were conducted by Barker (2006) indicate that good listening skills are important in almost every career. Good listeners frequently ask questions as well as make pertinent comments. The results from the listening quiz illustrated that I am a good listener, but I have to improve in some few areas. Jacobson (2009) states that improving the listening skills takes time and efforts. Being a good listener is imperative since it improves the relationship between the speaker and the listener, increases cooperation and enhances problem-solving.
Prompting the speaker to explore further the topic is one of the skills that I have used for many years. Through this skill, the good listeners get enough information from the speakers. When a speaker realizes that the listener is not paying much attention or look disinterested, they may not explore the topic in depth. However, when the audience actively listens and asks questions when necessary, it motivates the speaker to explore the topic in depth. I will improve on active listening through maintaining direct eye contact to the speakers and asking relevant questions.
Empathetically listening to the speaker is another good listening skill. I have used this skill to cement the relationships with various speakers. I will improve this skill through the use of the non-verbal skills, for example, facial expressions. I listen to speakers and gauge their message. Sometimes I judge the speakers when sometimes I don’t. From the speaker’s message, I gauge if they are telling the truth or not. I will defer from judging the speakers harshly since it may lead to wrong conclusions.
Boredom and disinterest are portrayed when the listeners do not ask questions or show non-verbal cues. I ask questions, use nonverbal communication to communicate agreements and disagreement among others. According to DeVito (2013), silent throughout the session may illustrate boredom and disinterest. In some cases, I do not critically analyze the speaker’s message that is very important. Critical thinking is one of the skills that I need to improve. I have learned to look deep for a meaning in every statement that has in some cases led me to wrong conclusions. Even though looking for hidden meaning through verbal and non-verbal cues is imperative, it may be harmful if overdone.
According to Barker (2006), good listening skills are most important skills that any person can have. In this case, how well a person listens determines their success in conversations. One thing that can improve the listening skills is to make conscious efforts of listening to both the words and nonverbal communications that requires paying more attention to the speaker. Distractions are one of the things that limit the information being communicated. In this case, I will avoid distraction when the speakers are talking. Paying attention will require looking at the speaker...