Among the topics covered during the Interpersonal Communication course was the concept of listening, particularly the difference between habitual and optimal listening. As listening is an integral component of the communication process, this was an appropriate subject matter to cover. It is important for individuals to characterize, understand, and apply the appropriate listening techniques to engage inefficient communication. In the paper below, the value of exploring habitual and optimal listening as a topic will be covered.
Habitual listening can be defined as passive listening. It occurs without adding to the cognitive load of the listener and does not require an increase in the attention paid to the speaker. On the other hand, optimal listening adds to the cognitive load and consists of listening closely while thinking through the information that is being communicated. Optimal listening is integral to hearing well and effective communication. These concepts are applied to several contexts, including both personal and professional ones. Their study can provide several benefits to the student and contribute to various aspects of one’s professional life.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Understanding the differences between habitual listening and optimal listening can improve productivity. Listening more attentively allows for misunderstandings to be avoided when it comes to requirements for a piece of work or instructions. As a result, efficiency is improved as the work produced is less prone to human error. Productivity is also increased by the fact that optimal listening encourages a better understanding between staff members. Co-workers that better listen to and understand each other have a better rapport. This improves synergy. Improved rapport also lowers instances of negative conflict in the workplace. On the other hand, it provides an opportunity for positive conflicts – such as offering contrasting ideas for debate or having opposing views discussed openly. As such, innovation and variety in company policies and methods increases.
Applying the course matter on optimal listening can also improve teamwork. For workers who are new to the team dynamic or for teams with less optimal teamwork levels, optimal listening offers opportunities for workers to better relate to one another (Tennant et al., 2020). Having improved communication with co-workers improves interpersonal communication and builds employees' understanding of one another. By applying optimal listening in their professional lives, students will be able to improve the synergy of their departmental teams. Students can also benefit by getting closer to co-workers in new work environments by applying optimal listening.
Conflict resolution is an area in which material on optimal listening can be applied to yield significant benefits. Identifying the difference between habitual listening and optimal listening in one's professional practise allows the individual to engage in optimal listening skills more often. This is an essential part of working through any situation involving conflict. It is critical to the conflict resolution process to pay close attention to both the verbal and the non-verbal cues of the opposing individual when involved in a conflict (Itzchakov et al., 2017). It is especially critical to truly understand the opposing viewpoint rather than wait while formulating one's response. This conflict resolution technique can be achieved through optimal listening.
On the other hand, waiting to respond without making an effort to be cognitively engaged with the opposing party is an example of habitual listening. Habitual listening skills in conflict resolution lead to unproductive solutions, resentment, and a high chance of conflict renewal. On the other hand, optimal listening in such situations allows one to understand the opposing perspective better and learn additional facts about the situation itself. It also enables one to ask informed questions.
References
Itzchakov, G., & Kluger, A. (2017). Listening with understanding in negotiation and conflict resolution. The negotiator’s desk reference , 409-420.
Tennant, K., Long, A., & Toney-Butler, T. J. (2020). Active Listening. StatPearls [Internet] .
