Listening Self-Assessment and Reflection

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Listening is one of the most important communication skills we can have. It is essential for building relationships, learning new things, and resolving conflict. However, listening is not always easy. It requires focus, concentration, and empathy.

This reflection paper will discuss my listening skills and preferences based on the results of the listening style inventory and the listener profile instrument. I will also discuss how to improve my listening skills and become a more effective listener.

The Listening Style Inventory assesses four different listening styles: people-oriented, action-oriented, content-oriented, and time-oriented. My highest score was in the people-oriented category, which suggests that I am most interested in building relationships with the people I am listening to. I am also a good listener of content, but I am less action-oriented and time-oriented.

The listener profile instrument assesses four different listening profiles: active, reflective, evaluative, and passive. My highest score was in the reflective category, which suggests that I am a thoughtful listener who likes to consider all sides of an issue before forming an opinion. I am also a good active listener, but I am less evaluative and passive.

Based on the results of the two assessments, my strengths as a listener include:

I am interested in building relationships with the people I am listening to.

I am a good listener to content.

I am a thoughtful listener who considers all sides of an issue before forming an opinion.

I am an active listener.

My weaknesses as a listener include:

I am less action-oriented and more time-oriented.

I am less evaluative and passive.

There are several things I can do to improve my listening skills. One way is to be more mindful of my listening habits. I can pay attention to how often I interrupt, how often I fidget, and how often I think about what I am going to say next instead of listening to what the other person is saying.

Another way to improve my listening skills is to practice active listening. This involves paying attention to the speaker's body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions. It also involves asking clarifying questions and summarizing what the speaker said to ensure I understand.

I can also improve my listening skills by becoming more aware of my own biases. We all have biases that can affect how we listen to others. For example, we may be more likely to listen carefully to people who we agree with or who are similar to us. It is essential to be aware of our biases and to try to set them aside when we are listening to others.

Listening is an important skill that can be improved with practice. I am committed to improving my listening skills so that I can be a more effective communicator and build stronger relationships with the people in my life