Let’s look at the second component of this complex, multidimensional skill we call listening. In our last BLOG, you had an opportunity to assess your ability to pay 100% attention when you listen. Now you can assess your ability to understand what you are hearing.  If you pay attention and still don’t get the message right, you are in for some major miscommunication problems…at home…at play.

To refresh our memories, IWCC believes that the skill of listening can be broken into three major categories:

• Attention
• Understanding
• Encouragement

This BLOG focuses on “Understanding”, which refers to your ability to:

• mentally process the information that is being exchanged
• remain open to all ideas (even if they contradict your beliefs)
• clearly grasp the “overall theme” of the message

Click here for Listening Skills Assessment Part Two: Understanding

Effective listening is a complex, multidimensional skill. It is a skill that many of us take for granted. Too bad! Anyone who takes listening for granted is missing out on major opportunities. Listening is key to your success at work…at home…at play.

IWCC believes that the skill of listening can be broken into three major categories:

• Attention
• Understanding
• Encouragement

Are you a good listener? Take our Listening Skills Assessment to find out. Just as we have presented three categories, we will present the Listening Skills assessment in three corresponding segments. Not only will you find out how good a listener you are, you will learn how to become an even better one.

Let’s start with the category of “Attention” in this BLOG. Attention refers to your ability to:

• focus 100% attention on a speaker during a dialogue with him or her
• tune out distractions
• “stay with” the conversation even under adverse circumstances

Listening Skills Assessment Part One: Attention