Learning to Listen also answers on-going requests from our customers for training resources on universally important basic skills such as communication, supervision, and working with others. We have found that one of the best ways to cope with increasing complexity and change is to provide employees with a thorough grounding in the skills they need to do their jobs on a daily basis. In creating this instrument, we made the conscious decision to focus on listening skills rather than listening styles. We did this for many reasons. First, a skills approach is more practical.
Participants are more likely to put new skills to use right away.
Secondly, skills are more concrete than styles. Participants will find them easier to relate to. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, skills are more changeable than styles, so participants will have a better chance of acting on the self-knowledge they get from completing this instrument. To Listen Learning to Listen can be used as the centerpiece of a short, stand alone workshop on listening skills, or it can be incorporated into broader training programs. You may want to consider keeping a supply of Learning to Listen in your organization's library or resource center so that employees can complete it on their own as part of their individual development plans.