Background Here Is A Quote From Chapter 10 To Ponder Listen
Backgroundhere Is A Quote From Chapter 10 To Ponder Listen At All
Background: Here is a quote from Chapter 10 to ponder: "Listen at all levels. Some of the best ideas come from those on the front lines." -- Rosalind Brewer, president and CEO, Sam's Club. To Read: Read Chapter 10: Listening To View: "5 Ways to Listen Better" 5 ways to listen better | Julian Treasure To Do: Veronica Sharpe, marketing manager for Diamond Communications, an outdoor advertising company, arrived in the boardroom for her teleconference with Brad Jones, a potential client. She was extremely busy today and brought her smart tablet with her, checking e-mail along the way. She also brought her digital voice recorder so that she could record the conversation for reference later. She intentionally left the cameras off, opting to only use audio transmission. Brad called right on time, and they began to speak about Brad’s plan for utilizing advertising space on the variety of electronic billboards along Interstate 45, a north-south route through Houston, Texas. About two minutes into Brad’s exposition of his plans, Veronica’s smart tablet buzzed. It was an e-mail she had been waiting on for two hours, and time was of the essence—she had to reply quickly to settle a payment before the 4:00 p.m. deadline, 5:00 p.m. in the Eastern time zone from where the e-mail was being sent. She thought to herself, “I’m recording all this, so I can just review it later—I have to answer this e-mail now. Time to multitask.” About a minute later, in the middle of her e-mail response, she noticed a distinct pause in Brad’s speech. “Veronica?” Brad asked. “Still there?” “Oh, yes,” Veronica answered, embarrassed. “Can you repeat that last thing?” “I want to know if the plan is something that your firm can accomplish, or do I need to find another firm with electronic boards?” Brad asked. For this assignment, students will respond to the following prompts. Initial response, 400+ words (include properly formatted citations and corresponding references from the assigned readings/videos in support of your response); then, respond to two classmate posts, 100+ words each. 1 What principles of effective listening was Veronica violating? 2 What do you think her best alternative is at this moment in time, given her lack of attention to Brad’s proposal?
Paper For Above instruction
The scenario involving Veronica Sharpe vividly illustrates several principles of effective listening that she violated, which ultimately hindered her ability to fully engage with Brad's proposal. Effective listening is a critical component of communication that requires attentiveness, empathy, and the avoidance of distractions (Treasure, 2021). Veronica’s multitasking during the call, specifically checking her email and recording the conversation with her digital voice recorder, demonstrated a lack of attentive listening, which is fundamental to effective communication (Adair, 2017). By dividing her attention, she compromised her capacity to process and interpret Brad’s verbal cues accurately, leading to her missing the crucial part of the conversation where Brad asked, "Can you repeat that last thing?"
One of the primary principles of effective listening violated by Veronica was active listening. Active listening involves giving full attention to the speaker, demonstrating engagement through verbal and non-verbal cues, and providing feedback to ensure comprehension (Treasure, 2021). Veronica’s decision to respond to an email mid-conversation exemplifies passive listening or even disregard for Brad’s input, which is detrimental to understanding the message fully. Furthermore, her failure to minimize distractions reflects a lack of mindfulness, an important aspect of effective listening that encourages the listener to be fully present (Adair, 2017). This lapse resulted in her missing essential details, causing her to request Brad to repeat himself, which interrupts the flow of the conversation and could potentially diminish the client's perception of her professionalism.
Additionally, Veronica violated the principle of withholding judgment and avoiding premature conclusions. By multitasking, she preempted her cognitive resources and failed to focus on Brad’s message, which is contrary to the practice of active, empathetic listening. Being fully present and attentive enables the listener to understand the speaker's intent and underlying emotions (Treasure, 2021). Her inattentiveness may have also conveyed disinterest or disrespect, which could damage the relationship with the client, Brad.
Given her current situation, Veronica’s best alternative would be to pause the conversation and acknowledge her distraction honestly. She could say, “Brad, I apologize; I was distracted momentarily. Could you please repeat the last part?" This strategy demonstrates honesty and respect, showing her commitment to understanding Brad’s needs effectively. Once the conversation resumes, she should focus solely on the call without multitasking, refraining from checking emails or handling other tasks. If necessary, she can request a follow-up meeting when she is fully prepared to engage without distractions. Restoring her undivided attention will ensure she captures the full scope of the proposal, fostering better communication and a stronger client relationship (Adair, 2017).
In conclusion, Veronica’s violation of core listening principles—such as active listening, mindfulness, and withholding judgment—hampered her capacity to understand Brad’s proposal accurately. Her best course of action now is to acknowledge her distraction honestly and re-engage fully in the conversation, which will improve her listening effectiveness and her professional credibility. Improving listening skills is essential for building trust and rapport in professional settings, as emphasized in the assigned readings (Treasure, 2021; Adair, 2017). Effective listening not only enhances understanding but also strengthens relationships, making it a vital skill for professionals in any industry.
References
- Adair, J. (2017). The principles of effective communication. Kogan Page.
- Treasure, J. (2021). 5 Ways to Listen Better. TEDx Talks. https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better