Week 7: Listening & Questioning Skills
Listening Skills Assessment
Instructions
This activity helps you assess your current listening habits and practice key techniques. Take 20-25 minutes to reflect thoughtfully on each prompt.
1Practice Prompt
Based on the four listening styles described in the reading, which one do you identify with most? What are the strengths of your style? In what situations might your default style create challenges?
Consider how you typically behave in different kinds of conversations - casual, professional, emotional, informational.
2Practice Prompt
Think of something a friend or family member shared with you recently. Write a paraphrase of their message (content) and a reflection of their feelings. How would responding this way differ from your typical response?
Paraphrasing restates content; reflecting acknowledges emotions. Both show you understood.
3Practice Prompt
Take a topic you're curious about (related to someone you know). Write one closed question, one open-ended question, and one probing question about that topic. When would each be most useful?
Closed questions confirm facts; open questions explore; probing questions go deeper.
4Practice Prompt
What are your two or three biggest listening barriers? For each, identify one specific strategy you could use to overcome it. Be concrete about what you'll actually do differently.
Consider both internal barriers (rehearsing, filtering, judging) and external ones (distractions, multitasking).