Graduate Attributes: Communication

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Graduate Attributes Communication

• Listening

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Food for thought

• Talking is power
• Listening is caring
• I like to listen. I have learned a great deal
  from listening carefully. Most people never
  listen.- Ernest Hemingway

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By the end of this session we will have

• Tried to define what effective listening means
  and reflected on different ways effective
  listening can help us now and after we graduate
• Discussed how (or whether!) the wider context
  impacts on our ability to listen
• Identified and discussed potential barriers to
  listening (listening killers),
• Identified personal objectives for the
  development of listening skill as part of our
  Graduate Attributes development

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Listening what is it?

• Working in pairs or small groups, try to define
  what listening is
• Why is effective listening an important skill for
  a university student AND a graduate? In small
  groups, think of at least 6 reasons. You may
  refer to the university experience as a whole and
  your specific discipline
• Put your ideas into the inner circle of your
  listening model sheet

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Some definitions

• To listen Give ones attention to a sound take
  notice of and act on what someone says respond
  to advice or a request (listen for or listen out
  for) make an effort to hear something be alert
  and ready to hear something (http//www.oxforddic
  tionaries.com/definition/english/listen)
• a process of receiving, constructing meaning
  from, and responding to spoken and/or nonverbal
  messages (Bentley and Bacon 1996, p.1,
  definition accepted by the International
  Listening Association)
• What is the difference between listening and
  hearing?

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The wider context

• Think of the context of the world we live in (our
  personal life, work, study) how do we
  communicate, what are the main issues,
  challenges?
• Working in a small group (preferably 4), fill the
  outer circle with key words and phrases that
  describe this context

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Reflection

• Does the context impact on our ability to listen
  well? To what extent?

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Your own experience

• Think of a situation when you were truly listened
  to. How did you feel? How did you know you were
  listened to?
• Think of an opposite situation you were not
  listened to. How did you feel? How could you
  tell?
• What could have been done to improve this
  situation?

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Levels of listening

• How can our listening evolve and become deeper?
  Briefly discussing in pairs, try to identify and
  jot down listening levels from the most
  surface one to a deep one
• Compare and discuss your ideas with the pair
  sitting closest to you

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Lets practise!
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Barriers to listening or listening killers

• What are the potential barriers to effective
  listening?
• What are filters?

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When listening, have you ever been

• A mind reader?
• A rehearser?
• A filterer?
• A dreamer?
• An identifier?
• A comparer?
• Other?...

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What have I learned?

• 1. Look back at your initial expectations
• 2. How will you apply the learning from this
  session? (academic study, work/career,
  social/community engagement?)
• 3. What else would you like to learn or/and
  know?

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Useful links

• Julian Treasure, 5 ways to listen better,
  speaking at TED conference, Edinburgh, Scotland
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vcSohjlYQI2A
• Listening and interpersonal skills tutorial
• http//www.learnhigher.ac.uk/working-with-others/l
  istening-and-interpersonal-skills/listening-and-in
  terpersonal-skills-tutorial/