Listening Styles Profile

Listening Styles Profile

Instructions: Rate how well each of the following statements applies to you in the course of your every-day listening on a scale of 0 to 4. 0 = Never, 1 = Infrequently, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Frequently, 4 = Always

Score	Item
	I focus my attention on the other person’s feelings when I am listening to them
	When listening to others I quickly notice if they are pleased or disappointed
	I become involved when listening to the problems of others
	I nod my head and/or use eye contact to show interest in what others are saying
	I am frustrated when others don’t present their ideas in an orderly, efficient way
	When listening to others, I focus on inconstancies and/or errors in what is being said
	I jump ahead and/or finish thoughts of speakers
	I am impatient with people who ramble on during conversations
	I prefer to listen to technical information
	I prefer to hear facts so I can personally evaluate them
	I like the challenge of listening to complex information
	I ask questions to probe for additional information
	When hurried, I let the other person(s) know that I have a limited amount of time to listen
	I begin a discussion by telling others how long I have to meet
	I interrupt others when I feel time pressure
	I look at my watch or clocks in the room when I have limited time to listen to others

What type of listener are you? To find out, add up the scores for each block of 4 questions.

_____ (Q1-Q4) People-Oriented: Concern for others’ feelings and emotions is paramount. Looks for common areas of interest and tries to respond empathetically. Tend to be sympathetic, non-judgmental, caring and understanding. Possible downside: spending time trying to win over the listener, rather than actually listening.

_____ (Q5-Q8) Action-Oriented: Preference for concise, efficient and error-free information. Can be particularly impatient and easily frustrated when listening to a disorganized presentation. Prefer well-organized, unambiguous information. May interrupt the speaker or complete sentences. Possible downside: “checking out” of a conversation where the speaker isn’t being concise.

_____ (Q9-Q12) Content-Oriented: Preference for receiving complex and challenging information. Tend to evaluate facts and details carefully before forming judgments and opinions by asking questions, listening to both sides of an issue and withholding judgment and eliminating any bias they may have toward the speaker or the topic. Possible downside: ignores the speaker’s emotional message in pursuit of facts.

_____ (Q13-Q16)Time-Oriented: Preference for brief or hurried interactions with others. Tend to let others know how much time they have available to listen or meet. Prefer brief interactions and are more likely to interrupt or express displeasure with their partner. Possible downside: people not telling you everything because they are worried about time constraints.

Most people have either one or two main styles. What impact might yours have on your conversations with your colleagues, r, direct reports, faculty or students? If you don’t think you have the balance right, what do you need to do to make a change?

Listening Styles Profile 1

*Watson, K.W., Barker, L.L. & Weaver, J.B. The Listening Styles Profile (LSP-16): Development and validation of an instrument to assess four listening styles. The international Journal of Listening, Vol. 9. Pp. 1-14. 1995.