Communication Skills (1+0)

3.1.6. Your listening profile

Listening is an active pursuit. It’s demanding hard work. Most of all, when someone is truly listening, it takes time away from the listener’s most important focus- himself. As a listener, have you ever analysed who do you like to listen to and who do you resist? Whether in a formal presentation, at a meeting or a party? And what are the turn-off qualities you’ve encountered in speakers on such occasions? Interestingly, the qualities your look for and despise, reveal a subtle image of your own inner-self. Answer the following quiz to get a thumbnail sketch of your hidden personality profile.

Tick mark only one of the alternatives provided.

Whom would you prefer to listen to; the one who-

Q. 1. a) Puts you at ease with his/her warm, friendly, honest and open style.

or

b) Caters to your interest by being approving exciting, creative and interesting in his

approach?

Q. 2. a) Provides you with ample information, being knowledgeable and confident himself?

or

b) Delivers his contents in an attractive and organized manner?

Q. 3. a) Appears trustworthy and authentic due to his status and position in society?

or

b) Inspires you with his innovative thinking.

Now, specify what turns you off most when you listen to someone-

Q. 4. a) A formal and stuffy style?

or

b) A closed and false appearance?

Q. 5. a) Pompous, stepping himself a step or two above you?

or

b) Monotonous and passive approach?

Q. 6. a) Vague and complex?

or

b) Hyper-intense, starting you at too high a level?

Interpretation

If you score mostly A’s: You are the kind who like to be actively invited to create an environment in which you can relax your guard and relate more directly and openly to others. Perhaps you find an inhibition in yourself in expressing warmth, friendliness and honesty or openness very directly though you respond to them with pleasure. Thus, you are drawn sub-consciously to those who can fill up this gap and are complementary to you. Your love for knowledge and authenticity of the source from where you derive it make you a well-informed and mentally alert personality. You’re basically an achiever and an affiliator, seeking ambition and warmth of relationship. You do not like operating from a rigid set of rules, unrelated to the situation at hand. You usually do not automatically want to look up to someone before you yourself have designated his/her worth. You may rebel against domination at work by people in power and control. You aspire for clarity of vision and understanding. Vagueness and complexity tend to baffle you and create anxiety within your. You hate to know you don’t understand, and like to maintain an equilibrium within your mental faculties. Cognitive dissonance puts you off completely.

If you score mostly B’s: You seem to prefer events promising pleasure and make you lose yourself in a feeling of anticipation and a curiosity about what comes next. Being mostly organized satisfies your brain’s need for order and logic. You tend to be usually comfortable with people who can inspire you, since they appeal to your deeply rooted willingness to follow them as a leader. Nevertheless, you tend to seek space in relationships and creativity and work. You have the capacity to view life in all its dimensions as you love excitement and all that is inspiring, interesting and innovative. You often shun monotony and passivity. You could also be often moody and indulgent, so look to your inner and outer balance. You seem to dislike delving deeper into a too high level and intense thought material. However, instead of clinging to what you term as “valuable”, try being more elastic in order to feel the freedom and expansion of your spirit and experience the joy it brings to you and others around you.