The Five Functions of Listening

When style gurus Stacy London and Clinton Kelly gave a makeover to a hapless fashion victim on their former hit TLC show, What Not to Wear, they didn’t just dole out advice. Instead, they spent a lot of time listening. Upon first meeting a new participant, they listened carefully to her story so they could better comprehend where she was coming from. When they thought someone was lying to them, or hiding important fears or feelings, they listened carefully to her tone of voice and wording, trying to discern her inner states. When a participant argumentatively defended a fashion faux pas, Stacy and Clinton listened analytically, looking for ways to attack her reasoning and move her in a different direction. When a guest joyously described her experience, they listened appreciatively—sharing in her happiness. Finally, given the emotional intensity of deconstructing someone’s appearance, Stacy and Clinton often listened supportively when a participant broke down in tears.

The different reasons for listening displayed on What Not to Wear mirror the listening functions, or purposes for listening, we experience daily. Akin to Stacy and Clinton’s interactions with participants, our interpersonal encounters are characterized by five common listening functions: to comprehend, to discern, to analyze, to appreciate, and to support.

image

Fashion gurus Stacy London and Clinton Kelly used a variety of listening styles on their show What Not to Wear. While it may seem like they listened only to analyze, one of their strengths was their ability to adjust their listening styles depending on the situation.

Scott Gries/© The Learning Channel/Courtesy Everett Collection