Question.4198 - Week 2 Discussion Initial Post Instructions Read the lesson for this week. Then, complete the Listening Exercise in the "Listen up!" section of this week's lesson. Use this exercise to evaluate your listening skills. Then, address the following using the provided headings to format your post: Listening Score State the graded results of the exercise in the "Listen up!" section that you completed in the lesson. What surprised you with the questions and results? Consider how your listening strategy changes when you are interacting with a different culture, then share your reflection with the class. Example Using the information from the exercise, describe an instance when you failed to be an effective listener. Also, in this section, include an example of when you found it difficult to listen when communicating with someone from a different culture. Reflections Respond to the following prompt in full sentences, making connections to the ideas contained in the listening chapter assigned for the week as well as including information from an outside source. Explain your thought process and provide examples to give further explanation to your description of why you felt the way you did. Share a time when you experienced a breakdown in the listening process. What do you believe was the reason you failed to listen effectively? Share potential listening barriers that might have been present. What could you have done differently to improve your listening? References Place your two APA citations in this section. Follow-up Post Instructions Respond to at least one peer or the instructor. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification. Writing Requirements Minimum of 2 posts (1 initial & 1 follow-up) Minimum of 2 sources cited (assigned readings/online lessons and an outside scholarly source) APA format for in-text citations and list of references
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Listening Score According to the "Listen Up" assessment, my score was 39, which places me in the B-level listener category. This result indicates that my listening habits are generally effective, but there is room for improvement. What surprised me most was the number of questions related to mental focus and emotional control. For example, I often develop my response while the sender is still speaking, which reduces my ability to absorb the message fully. Additionally, I noticed that my tendency to let my mind wander once I believe I’ve captured the message is a barrier to maintaining full attention. When interacting with individuals from different cultures, my listening strategy changes significantly. I become more conscious of potential cultural differences in communication styles, focusing on non-verbal cues and reflecting on the context of the conversation. For example, when conversing with someone from a culture that emphasizes indirect communication, I pause more frequently to ensure I fully grasp the intended meaning rather than assuming I know what will be said next. Example An instance when I failed to be an effective listener was during a team meeting where a colleague was explaining a complex project update. I did not use active feedback techniques such as saying, “I see” or “uh huh,” which made the speaker feel unheard and discouraged from further elaboration. Referring to question 9, I recognize that providing verbal cues could have encouraged better communication. In a cross-cultural context, I recall a conversation with a business associate from Japan. Cultural norms in Japan emphasize subtlety and harmony, which led to indirect expressions of disagreement. My failure to reflect on the feelings being expressed (question 14) resulted in my misunderstanding the speaker's hesitations. In retrospect, actively paraphrasing their concerns and reflecting on their emotions would have shown that I understood their perspective (Thompson, 2011). Reflections A significant breakdown in my listening process occurred during a performance review. My focus was on formulating a defense rather than understanding the constructive feedback being provided. This reactive mindset, influenced by defensiveness, prevented me from engaging in effective listening. The primary barrier was emotional interference, where my feelings of anxiety and frustration clouded my ability to concentrate on the content of the conversation. To improve, I could have practiced emotional regulation by acknowledging my feelings internally but setting them aside to focus on the message. Applying techniques from Chapter 5 of the textbook, such as maintaining eye contact and suspending judgment, would have helped me remain present and receptive. Additionally, employing reflective listening techniques would have clarified the key points and demonstrated a willingness to engage collaboratively (McLean, 2018). References McLean, S. (2018). Exploring interpersonal communication. Thompson, J. (2011, September 30). Is nonverbal communication a numbers game? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beyond-words/201109/is-nonverbal-communication-numbers-gameMore Articles From Management
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