Bshs 385 - Effective Listening Strategies

Effective Listening Strategies

BSHS/385

May 23, 2016

Effective Listening Strategies

Effective listening is a great tool to use when interviewing a client. There are some individuals it takes time to learn this kind of strategy, and for others this comes pretty natural. For those that might take some time to learn or to practice this strategy; might feel it is impossible to gainfully implement the strategy successfully. Therefore, the researchers will provide three articles and give a synopsis. The researchers will explain what they have learned about effective listening, how can they apply in their practice or daily life, will they use any of the strategies, and are the strategies effective.

Article 1

Within the first article, it gives ten different steps on how effective listening could be effective during an interview. The first step would to keep eye contact. This step is important because it allows the client to feel like you are paying attention to how they are feeling. The second step is to remain attentive. You do not have to maintain eye contact the whole time, but be prepared to serve and always pay attention. The third step is to keep an open mind. This is important because you do not want to judge the client based on your personal values or beliefs. The fourth step is listen to the words and try to picture what the client is trying to say. While the speaker is letting you know what is going on, it is important for the interviewer to paint a picture to what the client is telling you. It helps to make a connection between the interviewer and the client throughout your session. The fifth step is do not interrupt the client while they are speaking. If you do so, it might give the wrong impression to the client that you might feel like you are more important than how they are feeling. The sixth step is to wait for the speaker to stop to ask clarifying questions. It is important to write down your questions and ask the speaker at the end to avoid interrupting the client while they are speaking. The seventh step is to ask questions on the gain understanding throughout the process. You do not want to ask unnecessary questions and make the client feel you are not in tuned to what is going on. All of the steps mentioned above are good indicators that you are performing good effective listening skills. It is important for the client to feel you are listening, paying attention, and to make sure they are comfortable throughout the process of the interview. (Schilling, 2012)

Article 2

        During this article, there are 14 different individuals that are going through a divorce. At times the individuals have uncertainty or concerns about how everything is going to play out. Through the different open-ended questions and face-to-face interviews, it allowed for the interviewer to gain information and control over the mediation talks. The focus of the article is on the mediator and how they were able to be successful through the process of mediation between divorcing couples. Through listening to what the clients had to say or feel, the mediator was able to keep conflict and confusion to a minimum. The mediator kept eye contact, paid attention, asked questions when needed for clarification, and kept an open mind. This article is a good example to how an interview should take place. The mediator brought the clients in to break the ice by asking open and closed-end questions. Once the clients were comfortable talks went smoothly because of the rapport and trust the individuals had with the mediator. (Van & Smit, 2006)