How to Listen to a Speech
When listening to someone give a speech you may find yourself drifting off and getting distracted, or you might stop listening to the speaker if you don't agree with what they are saying. This can create several problems for you, especially if you are at a work related seminar. Fortunately, there are some steps you can follow to help you actively listen to a speech and absorb the entire message.
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Instructions
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Determine what your listening goal is. This can be to listen for pleasure, to empathize, to evaluate, or for information. Listening for pleasure just requires that you sit back and appreciate what you hear. Listening to empathize involves mentally putting yourself in the speaker's situation. Listening to evaluate means you are judging what he's saying during the speech. Listening for information is paying attention to details and facts.
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Minimize outside distractions. If the sun is in your eyes ask if the blinds can be closed. If you're in a room and people are being noisy outside the door ask if you can close it. If you are seated far away and can't hear the speaker very well ask if you can move closer.
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Give non-verbal feedback during a speech. Look the speaker in the eyes to show that you are listening to him. Don't show too much emotion if you hear something that offends you. While the speaker might want to know if she's being offensive so she can rephrase something, you don't want to completely embarrass her.
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Continue to listen even if you don't agree with what the speech is about. You don't have to change your opinion, but give others the chance to share theirs. You might end up learning something you didn't know.
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Ask questions during the appropriate time if you need something clarified. Sometimes even when you listen closely to a speech you still don't get all of the information you need. Speakers should be prepared to answer these questions as long as they're relevant to the topic.
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