
That might make you an excellent debater, but it doesn’t make you a good listener. By contrast, poor listeners were seen as competitive - as listening only to identify errors in reasoning or logic, using their silence as a chance to prepare their next response. In these interactions, feedback flowed smoothly in both directions with neither party becoming defensive about comments the other made. Good listening was seen as a cooperative conversation.Good listening was characterized by the creation of a safe environment in which issues and differences could be discussed openly. Good listeners made the other person feel supported and conveyed confidence in them. The best listeners made the conversation a positive experience for the other party, which doesn’t happen when the listener is passive (or, for that matter, critical!). Good listening included interactions that build a person’s self-esteem.Good listening was consistently seen as a two-way dialog, rather than a one-way “speaker versus hearer” interaction. Sitting there silently nodding does not provide sure evidence that a person is listening, but asking a good question tells the speaker the listener has not only heard what was said, but that they comprehended it well enough to want additional information. These questions gently challenge old assumptions, but do so in a constructive way. To the contrary, people perceive the best listeners to be those who periodically ask questions that promote discovery and insight.



People’s appraisal of their listening ability is much like their assessment of their driving skills, in that the great bulk of adults think they’re above average. Chances are you think you’re a good listener.
