Transcript Chapter Three

Chapter Three
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: physiological process of
perceiving sounds.
Listening: conscious act of recognizing,
understanding, and interpreting
messages.
Understanding the Listening Process:
Listening is Selective
Selective perception:process by which
people pay attention to messages and
ignore others.
We pay attention to what is important to us
We filter information on the basis of what we
already know.
Barriers to Active Listening
Active listening:
focused, purposeful
thinking used to gather
and evaluate
information.
Barriers to Active Listening
Obstacles:
Inattentiveness
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
“Scriptwriters”: think about what they,
and not the speaker, will say next.
Defensive listening: 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
Judge speakers on the content of what
they are saying.
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: 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
Consider multiple perspectives.
Assess an argument’s logic.
Summarize and judge.
Guidelines for Evaluating
Speeches and Presentations
Critically evaluating the speeches of
others will help you 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.