To be an effective communicator we must master the core competence of listening. A willingness to listen during an interaction allows you to understand others, respond appropriately to what they say, or provide helpful feedback.

Prepare: As you prepare to write this discussion post, take a few moments to

Read the writing prompt below in its entirety. Notice that there are three tasks to complete:

Complete the following listening survey and record your results: Active Listening

Think about how your listening style shapes your professional relationships.

Make a list of some specific techniques from the Bevan and Sole (2014) you can use to improve your listening.

Reread Section 7.2: Listening.

Review the grading rubric.

Reflect: Take time to reflect on why listening is so important in becoming better communicators. Consider how the listening techniques covered in the course text could improve your professional relationships.

Write: Based on your quiz results and what you learned in Section 7.2 of the text, answer the following questions:

What is your willingness to listen score? What feedback did you receive from the quiz? Why do you think this measure was an accurate or inaccurate representation of your willingness to listen?

How do you think your willingness to listen score could impact your professional relationships?

How can you improve your listening? Explain some specific techniques described in our text and how improvement in these areas could enhance your professional relationships. Consider what you have learned in class this week.

Thoroughly address all three elements of this prompt by writing at least two to three sentences on each element. Use the course readings at least once to help you make your points. Consider copying and pasting these tasks into a word file and addressing each of them separately.

Your initial response should be 200 to 300 words in length and is due by Thursday, Day 3.