Constructive Listening

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Constructive Listening
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• Sinawa (the Great Spirit) gave us two ears and
  one mouth in order that we might listen twice as
  much as we talk
• Native American saying

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Read Modes of Listening

• Pages 32-33
• Ripples of Hope - Building Relationships for
  Educational Change by Julian Weissglass

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Modes of Listening

• Active Listening - reflect and then interpret
  what the talker is communicating
• Passive Listening - listener does not say a word
  but indicates interest with nodding or smiling
• Inattentive Listening - little attempt to
  comprehend or respond to talker
• Pretend Listening - looks interested but thinking
  about something else
• Conversational listening - role of talker and
  listener alternates
• Argumentative listening - listener is passionate
  and looks for flaw in talkers argument.

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Constructive Listening

• Read pages 33-35 from Ripples.

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Support Structures for Constructivist Listening

• Dyad
• Personal Experience Sharing Group (PES)
• Personal Experience Panel (PEP)

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Guidelines for PES and PEP

• Each person is given equal time to talk (a timer
  is used)
• The listener does not interpret, paraphrase,
  analyze, give advice, or break in with a personal
  story
• Confidentiality is maintained
• The talker is not to criticize or complain about
  the listener or mutual acquaintances in his/her
  turn

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Guidelines for PES and PEP

• CELL PHONES OFF!

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PES Questions

• What do you want the group to know about you?
  (First 2 minutes)
• When do you remember being listened to
  attentively? How did you feel?
• When were you not listened to well? How did you
  feel?
• What are some memories of good conversations you
  have had? How did the conversation differ from
  just being listened to?

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Constructive Listening is useful for

• Helping you think clearly and act intelligently
  when addressing sensitive issues
• Creating the safety people need to speak
  authentically about their feelings and beliefs
• Building alliances and fostering cooperation
• Helping reduce stress and anxiety

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Change Cannot Be Mandated

• Change happens when individuals and groups
  develop new understanding, build trust, decide to
  do things differently, and follow through on
  these decisions.
• Attempting to mandate change is the antithesis
  of empowerment.

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• Constructivist listening is a tool for
  facilitating change.