A court stenographer depends on specialized listening skills to record court proceedings accurately. But is he listening differently than, say, the judge or the jury? Does he listen the same way when he is watching a movie, reading Twitter posts, or chatting with friends? Probably not, as each listening situation involves achieving different types of goals. In the sections that follow, we discuss the different ways in which we listen to accomplish our goals and desires. In some situations, you need to listen for information; in others, you must listen for ideas, emotions, or enjoyment. You listen to comprehend, to evaluate, to communicate empathy, and to appreciate (Steil, Barker, & Watson, 1983). And sometimes you listen with all these goals in mind.
TABLE 6.1 LISTENING GOALS
| Type | Description | Strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Informational | Listening to understand, learn, realize, or recognize | Listen for main ideas or details; take speaker’s perspective; use memory effectively |
| Critical | Listening to judge, analyze, or evaluate | Determine speaker’s goal; evaluate source of message; question logic, reasoning, and evidence of message |
| Empathic | Listening to provide therapy, comfort, and sympathy | Focus on speaker’s perspective; give supportive feedback; show caring; demonstrate patience; avoid judgment; focus on speaker’s goal |
| Appreciative | Listening for enjoyment of what is being presented | Remove physical and time distractions; know more about originator (author, artist, composer); explore new appreciative listening opportunities |