Listening actively to learn
Featured in the Networking Skills for Business Success training manual
By Tessa Simpson
Category: Personal Development
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
Networking is about communication, and one of the most important communication skills is the ability to listen to others, before talking. This training activity is about helping the participants improve their listening skills in order to be more confident in discussions and have more impact on others.
The training activity opens with the participants giving their opinion on what good communication consists of, and a discussion about the importance and value of listening in relation to talking. For the remainder of the training activity, the participants engage in a series of exercises to practise active listening skills. They first rate their accuracy in repeating back answers to questions, and become aware of the importance of giving full attention to the other person without being distracted. The participants next examine the value of complete concentration on what a speaker is saying, and avoid missing much of what is said by trying to remember specific details or thinking about how they are going to reply. Through role-play, they go on to explore how to indicate to a speaker that they really have been heard by accurate paraphrasing of what has been said. In the final exercise, the participants practise a listening technique that can deflect disagreement by responding rather than reacting to what others say. The training activity closes with a statement of the value of active listening in reducing misunderstanding and building positive relationships.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to help the participants’ ability to hear what is being said when listening to others.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 20 |
| Typical Duration: | 02:00:00 |
| No of Pages: | 17 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers at any time when a group or team need to be able to communicate effectively with others. It deals with making contacts and influencing others, and helps with personal relationships through personal development.
Download the training activity, Listening actively to learn as featured in the Fenman training manual; Networking Skills for Business Success