CAUSES OF LISTENING

BREAKDOWN
CAUSES OF LISTENING
BREAKDOWN

MIND
READING
Assuming you know
what someone is
thinking without
asking them.

Example: Assuming
your friend is upset
with you without
telling you directly.
REHEARSING
Planning what to say next in
your mind while missing the
current conversation.

Example: Thinking about

your response in a meeting
instead of listening to the
speaker.
FILTERING
Only paying attention to
what's relevant to you,
missing the broader
context.

Example: Only hearing

the parts of a news story
that align with your
beliefs.
JUDGING
Criticizing what the
speaker says without
trying to understand
their perspective.

Example: Dismissing
someone’s opinion
without considering
their point of view.
DAY
DREAMING
Getting lost in your
own thoughts while
someone is talking to
you.

Example: Thinking
about your weekend
plans during a lecture.
ADVISING
Quickly offering solutions
instead of listening and
empathizing.

Example: When a friend is

venting, you immediately
suggest what they should
do.
SPARRING
Arguing and trying to
win a debate rather
than listening.

Example: Instead of
hearing your partner's
concerns, you engage
in a heated argument.
BEING RIGHT
Ignoring any evidence
that you might be wrong
and becoming defensive.

Example: Refusing to
admit your mistake even
when presented with
facts.
DERAILING
Changing the subject
when a topic makes you
uncomfortable.

Example: Shifting the

conversation away from
a difficult discussion.
PLACATING
Agreeing with everything to
avoid confrontation, without
truly understanding the other
person's feelings.

Example: Pretending to agree

with a colleague to end a
disagreement.
6 Listening Skills
Level
 ATTENTIVE LISTENING

EMPHATIC LISTENING
PASSIVE LISTENING

LISTENING

LISTENING
SELECTIVE
RESPONSIVE

ACTIVE
LISTENING You focus on You engage
certain words emotionally and
or phrases that intellectually,
You give some interest you, not You ask questions asking questions
the whole or paraphrase to and reflecting what
signs that you're
You're aware listening, like message understand better, you've heard. Listening at the
but it's still self- deepest level by trying
someone is nodding, but
centered. to understand the
speaking but not comprehension is
understanding still low. speaker's perspective
much. and feelings.
2 External Obstacles
 SENSORY OVERLOAD

Too many messages competing for your

attention, making it hard to focus.

AUDITORY NOISE

Distractions like construction noise or loud

surroundings that make it hard to hear
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!
QUIZ:
1. Which of the following is NOT an example of poor listening habit
that leads to misunderstandings and a breakdown in
communication?

a. Mind reading
b. Filtering
c. Selective listening
d. Empathic listening Empathic listening
Questions:

2. In selective listening, individuals pay attention to certain words or

phrases that __________ their interest.

3. One of the external obstacles to effective listening is __________,

which refers to the bombardment of messages that compete for our
attention.

4. What is the primary difference between passive listening and active

listening?
 5. Imagine you're in a busy coffee shop, and the chatter,
music, and clinking of cups are making it difficult to hear your
friend. Which external obstacle to listening does this scenario
best illustrate?