Identification of Level of Mastery
For my score on the listening skills test, I got a 41 out of 75. This is about middle of the road for this score; any lower, and I would have to consider myself in dramatic need of improving my listening skills. Some of my biggest strengths include not ending conversations that do not interest me, as well as hearing what is said as opposed to what I want to hear. I am also somewhat proficient at multitasking different conversations, anticipating what other people are going to say successfully, and offer nonverbal cues to the speaker to let them know that I am still listening.
Practical Application of Skill, Ability or Attribute
Listening skills in the workplace are the cornerstones of communication; if we cannot listen appropriately and accurately to each other, it is impossible for us to get any work done. We have to be able to open ourselves up to whatever information is volunteered and communicated to us, be able to pay attention to and assimilate that data, and not cloud it with our own preconceptions. Listening skills are important when collaborating with a group of coworkers in order to complete a project. Receiving instructions from supervisors also requires significant language comprehension and communication skills. Furthermore, supervisors must be able to know when employees are having problems, and make them feel like their concerns are being considered.
Personal Goals
Ideally, I would like to work my way up to a reasonably good score of 62. I could use a lot of work in the following areas: not speaking right after someone stops talking, opening myself up to other interpretations of an issue instead of making my own, and paying attention to people in general. I know I have quite a way to go from where I am now, but I believe if I take one week and work on two of the attributes I have trouble with at a time, I can make marked improvements. There are 8-10 true problem areas for me out of the 15 questions; I wish to take 2 of those at a time, and in 4-5 weeks I would like to say that I can get an improved score of 62 on this assessment.
References
Glenn, E.C., & Pood, E.A. (January 1989). Listening self-inventory. Supervisory Management,
pp. 12-15.
