Listening Skills - Reflective Schools

As listening significantly affects the geniality of all our conversations, it is suffice to say that to actively listen is to fully supply a profound interest within our fellow communicators. Via providing them with the obvious knowledge that you are truly intent on listening, wether it be a friend or a stranger, a reciprocation of their deepest and truest feelings may occur. To expand this skill fully and accurately, a five minute recording depicting an in-depth conversation of mine was taped, thus consequently presenting the perfect opportunity to apply the numerous amount of skills that form active listening. Throughout the following essay my application towards such techniques will be thoroughly examined through an extensive reflective process.

To fully examine my performance accurately it is crucial to investigate the components of active listening separately. With the most vital elements including, building rapport, paraphrasing, nonverbal communication and accurate questioning, the preceding recorded segment should demonstrate each element more then once to maintain a successful presentation of actively listening. Based within the natural setting of my home, and discussed with a close family member, the vital element of building rapport has already been established over copious amounts of years. However, to be successful in engaging in an intimate conversation, building rapport can be done by mirroring the communicators body and emotional language, pacing the speed of conversation, displaying a sense of empathy and respect, utilizing a comfortable amount of eye contact and or simply greeting and welcoming the communicator.

Within the first few minuets of the recorded segment it is bluntly obvious that my use of rapport is laid back and nominal. Though I have utilised the undemanding method of mirroring body linguistics, via sharing similar mannerisms and sitting positions, the vital element of empathy seems forced and contrived. Such sense of irregularity is seen through the tone of my voice, as its raised manner appears sarcastic and uninterested, this being thoroughly evident through my very first greeting of ‘ Hey Trace, How are you?' Though my sense of empathy is seemingly satisfactory, my employment of eye contact is unbreakable and in-depth, thus contributing greatly towards spiralling the intimacy within the conversation, as well as assisting my sense of respect for her to befall more apparent. As being the active listener consists of minimal self disclosure, the pace of discussion was left open for Tracey, the communicator, to set. Via using such a method, the communicator experiences control, and leaves comfortable knowing they disclosed what they intended on disclosing. Through allowing Tracey to undergo such comfort, the speed of conversation was pleasant and effortless, but yet still in-depth enough to result in un-covering her personal qualms.

Whilst building rapport is an incredibly crucial ingredient of actively listening, the use of nonverbal communication is seemingly as imperative. It is the utilisation of nonverbal communication that assists us in releasing how the communicator and or active listener is feeling. Through the observation and employment of these certain non-verbals such as, Kinesics, proxemics, vocalics and haptics, the method of actively listening becomes a slightly more effective process. Depicted significantly within the recorded segment is the non-verbal employment of Kinesics, as it is the elements of gesture and posture that I utilised to emphasise understanding and meaning. Though throughout the whole discussion I am employing a direct body posture, indicating I am genially attentive, it is the combination of my overwhelming head gesture and underwhelming vocalics, that I slack on my legitimate response and evolve towards a more sardonic and ironic reply. Via employing such a visible fallacy the opportunity for my communicator to believe I am mocking her could arise. Though fortunately my relationship with the communicator forced her to realise I would never employ such behaviour, in other situations I may not be as privileged. Whilst the exploitation of my head gesture was too extensive, the application of a subtle hand gesture was quite efficient in allowing Tracey to sense my comprehension.

Though nonverbal communications can contribute