It takes a lot of awareness and determination to be an active listener. Active listeners must set aside all other views and actions and focus on the message. It can be challenging to grow into being an active listener. Becoming a good listener may involve modifications in simple approaches. To successfully become a good listener, the individual needs to have a genuine curiosity in the talker. This interest can be constructed merely by being eager to imagine the world from the speaker’s perspective. Personal Response Active listening can be somewhat risky. It places the listener in a vulnerable state of being persuaded by the speaker. Consequently, the listener may feel threatened and assume that he/she must conceptualize his/her views on someone else’s terms. People are accustomed to regulating their perspective based on the limited culture view of the world they have seen. However, as individuals, we perceive, interpret, respond to daily situations, emotions, and conversations solely based on what was culturally embedded in our minds throughout our development. Consequently, it is extremely challenging to perceive things from another person 's view. Becoming empathetic while employing the skillful art of active listening can be quite unpleasant but much more challenging. Rogers and Roethlisberger (1991) “stated that the natural tendency to evaluate from the listener’s frame of reference, and support or reject of what a different person is saying, is the biggest obstacle to effective interpersonal communication, predominantly the situation when the subject was associated with strong feelings.” Furthermore, Rogers and Roethlisberger (1991) stated that “even though the predisposition to make assessments is common in nearly all exchange of verbal communication, it is very much intensified in those circumstances where one’s view and feelings are deeply involved.” Therefore, the stronger our emotional state, the more likely it is that there will be no reciprocal element in the communication (Rogers & Roethlisberger, 1991). There will simply be two ideas, two emotional states, and two presumptions continuously missing each other in psychological space (Rogers & Roethlisberger, 1991). Acquiring and mastering the skill of active listening begins with being attentive. …show more content…
Coaches have a responsibility to be mindful of their limitations, biases, preconceptions, responses, and point of view; and recognize the manifestation of these probable barriers. Self-awareness will be a vital factor to becoming a skillful listener. Client-centered psychology deal with listening without judgment or preconception, shifting the client’s words with absolute constructive regard, with certainty that the client recognizes his/herself best, is critical to creating trust (Silsbee, 2004; Wilkinsky, 2006).
Listening Barriers
Listening obstacles may be psychosomatic (e.g. feelings) or somatic (e.g. sound and visual interference). Ethnic variances comprising speakers’ pronunciations, terminology, and misinterpretations derived from cultural assumptions frequently hinder the listening process. Moreover, individuals have the tendency to be analytical and judgemental. At times individuals become preoccupy by condemning what the other individual is saying that they can not hear the person. Commonly, the listener’s understandings, outlooks, prejudices, and preconceptions lead to unsuccessful and unproductive communication.
Active Listening and Coaching Active Listening has been deemed valuable enough that it is one of the Core Competencies of the International Coach Federation. The ICF defines Active Listening as the ability to focus entirely on what the client is saying and is not saying, to comprehend the connotation of what is specified in the context of the client’s desires, and supporting client individualism(Core Competencies, n.d.). Furthermore, Active listening is a vital skill that a coach should possess. Active listening is a critical approach that can kindle changes in people. In spite of the prevalent opinion that listening is a passive method,