Listening effectively

Listening effectively

Adopting a listening role can be far harder than taking the lead by talking. The problem

with this can be that, the more the authority figure talks, the less the other person may be

inclined to talk. There can be a critical moment when people in the subordinate role

might just start saying what they really feel, if only the authority figure stays quiet long

enough. Once the ‘subordinate’ has started talking, things may come out with a rush and

to the amazement of the authority figure. One have often found that such a critical

moment can occur when one leading classroom discussions.. One useful technique in

any such situation can be to count silently to five before breaking the silence after a

particularly important question has been asked. Time after time one have found that

such a delay has resulted in someone making a contribution that one had not thought

possible. Once a person has started to talk it can be relatively easy to get him to

continue and for any others to join in. The problem is likely to be how to get them started.

The authority figure needs to be aware of letting his ignorance, impatience or even his

own

nelVousness prevent such a process staI1ing. Care has to be taken with the timing of

invitations for people to open up-it is not only the time and the place that can be

important but also the stage in a discussion.