I teach a course at Michigan Tech called “Creating Your Success.” Our last class period was dedicated to helping students understand the importance of attending class (we calculated the cost of missing a class…it’s not cheap!) and listening while you’re in class. I gave a few examples of barriers to listening (see picture below). Have you found yourself zoning out in a lecture, group meeting, or even at church!?

I believe that once we realize what the four stages of listening are we will become more effective listeners. Here we go!

Sensing
Sensing is pretty easy to understand. You receive auditory signals through sound waves while you are your lecture, meeting, or church service. As you hear, sound waves enter your ears and register in your brain.

Interpreting
Has anyone ever told you, “I heard you, but I wasn’t listening?” Well this has a lot to do with interpreting. It is not enough for those sound waves to enter your ears and register in your brain. You need to be able to understand the message. The sounds themselves mean nothing unless there is meaning to them. This is why it was such an amazing experience for me to live in Denmark. I rode on trains and buses all day and heard LOTS of sounds from people, but since I don’t speak Danish I had no interpretation!

Evaluating
You’ve received an auditory signal, you understand the message, now what are you going to do with what you understood? This is where evaluating comes in. You must decide whether the information is true or false, valuable, important, etc. This is where it may be helpful to ask questions if you do not understand what you are interpreting. Never assume you know the answer!

Responding
This is sometimes difficult for women (I’m sorry ladies!). Women are naturally emotional-men are logical. Women don’t always take time to evaluate before we respond! When you’re responding you are providing feedback or taking action. Hopefully you will take more time evaluating before you respond to a situation or information given in your lecture/meeting/service so that your response is appropriate:)

Now, if you aren’t focused you will jump from one stage of listening to the other without knowing what is going on! In order to prevent that from happening, jot down these tips for being a more effective listener:

~Be rested: Nobody likes a yawner! It’s difficult to focus on the topic matter if you are exhausted. Get some rest!

~Be prepared: If you’re headed to a lecture/meeting/service, bring your books/pen/paper/deliverables/Bible!

~Avoid distractions. There is a time to text and a time not to text. When you are in your lecture/meeting/service focus your attention on the here and now. Don’t be distracted by outside influences.

~Think positively: If you walk into a lecture/meeting/service thinking, “this is going to be a waste of my time,” chances are it will be!

~Content, not delivery: I am not always pleased with the way in which information is delivered, but content is key. Don’t focus on the presenter’s mannerisms, dress, height, weight, etc. Focus on the information being given. That is what counts.

~Concepts and ideas: We all tend to get a little off topic from time to time. Your job in your lecture/meeting/service is to focus on the key concepts being given. If your presenter goes a little off topic that does not give you permission to let your mind wander. Stay focused and wait for the golden ticket!

~Ask questions: Asking questions is the best way to embed information in your brain. Even if you already know the answer there is nothing wrong with a little confirmation.

~Be open minded: You may not always agree with what is being said, but treat each lesson/sermon/workshop as a learning experience. Be open minded and objective.

~Challenging yourself: If you are truly being an effective listener it is going to take a LOT OF WORK. Think of it as a challenging activity and reward yourself for doing a great job!

Happy listening!
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Kari L. Brown offers coaching/mentoring to students and professionals struggling with success and maintaining a personal relationship with God. For more information visit www.karilbrown.com, or follow @karilbrown on Twitter.