I find it sometimes challenging to deeply listen when gathering all the information I need from a student because often I'm thinking about the next step in our process.
Ways I've been able to listen better are to stop thinking about the next step. Afterall, it's important to take what my student is saying in the moment so that I can reflect back with them properly.
Laura,
Great awareness! Listening is key to creating relationships and helping others achieve their goals. Thank you for sharing.
Dr. Jean Norris
I am someone who loses focus right away, so I have had to really pay attention to when people talk to me to stay put and focus. I catch myself so many times doing this, I will continue to work very hard in this area.
Juan,
Great awareness! In the future, continue you to be aware of this and consider options for change. Great job.
Dr. Jean Norris
I find myself listening to target audiences better than non-interesting persons or groups. This tells me that I am agenda driven somewhat. That is not good in reality. Limitations will only cheat me of the chance to personally learn and more importantly, hider me from helping the real need around me.
Juan Wilkerson
It sounds like you understand that listening is a choice and that you take the time to do so. What can you do to remind yourself to make the choice to listen?
Dr. Jean Norris
I agree also, the information that I am giving to the student even though I do it all day every student is different and I try and listen to everyone but I always have an end goal and I need to just take a minute to really hear what is going on with them.
This is great awareness Tracy. What can you do to remind yourself that listening is a choice and to stay focused with each and every person?
Dr. Jean Norris
I can really relate to listening to my "inner voice". Some things get repetitive and I fall in the trap of knowing what they are going to say and don't listen. Understanding that listening is a choice and staying focused can help create trust and understanding will help me.
You bring up a common struggle for many people, having much to do and what seems like not enough time to do it - right? What it boils down to is that listening is a choice and when we make the decision to focus on the other person that's all that is important at that moment. May, what can you do to remind yourself to make the choice to listen in your conversations?
Dr. Jean Norris
I'm most often very busy and not able to spend a lot of time in conversations on the phone or emails.
Kathryn,
I'll bet your students appreciate the focus and attention you give them when you set time aside to talk to them. Great approach!
Dr. Jean Norris
I try not to deeply listen on the fly, if a student wants to discuss something serious with me, I pull them outside and set up a separate time with them where I am not distracted and can focus better, if that's ok with them!
It's a tricky balance Cindi but one that is necessary. Without the listening component we may not get to the point of enrolling students, at least the right students. Taking the time to listen creates a win-win situation for you and the student. What can you do to help stay focused on the student's needs rather than yours?
I agree with whole heartily with this. When there is a limited time to complete all the neccessary paperwork and objectives sometimes I get to caught up in the tasks and don't listen effectively to my students. I am still working on how to be less task oriented and more of a listener and educator.
Self-awareness is the first step to making a change. What can you do to keep yourself focused on the details?
I don't always pay attention to details, I start thinking about what other thinks I need to do or What I want to say.
Listening is only one part of the communication formula, we also have to consider how we are delivering the information. We all have different learning styles that can be visual, auditory or even kinesthetic. Sometimes when the person asks the same question they are saying 'I didn't understand the answer' or 'You aren't giving me the information in a way that I can learn.' Try using different methods of communication to see if that helps.
My listening limitations kick in when it seems as if I have spent hours on the phone trying to help a student to understand a concept and then the student does not want to receive what has been said. It seems as if students are always trying to figure out short cuts and ways of getting out of completing certain task. I do not like when I review the policies and procedures with students and they decide to ask the same questions over and over again.
I do know that patience is a virtue and I have learned from this course that listening is the most effective way to communicate but it is not always easy.
That's why I appreciate this course. It's very beneficial and helpful.
You're right, it takes a lot of effort to stay focused and listening with the intent to be fully present and to listen without any filters. "Be hear now" is a practice that can apply to many levels of listening. Thanks for sharing.
