Mastering the Art of Listening: 18 Types of Listening Skills

Listening can be defined as a process of receiving information in the form of sounds or action and reacting or responding to that information through spoken or unspoken methods.

What is listening?

Paying attention to sounds and comprehending their meanings is the essence of the listening process. Sadly, most individuals tend to focus on improving their speaking abilities and overlook the significance of critical listening, assuming that it comes naturally.

In reality, critical listening is a crucial interpersonal aptitude that necessitates constant practice. Employers often seek out candidates with exceptional listening skills, recognizing that it is a fundamental skill in the workplace.

In this article, you will learn about different types of listening

Kinds of listening communications and Types of listening skills

#1. Discriminative listening:

During the early years of a child's life, the most fundamental type of listening is formed - discriminative listening. Even before birth, a child begins to learn this skill, which involves differentiating between sounds even if they do not understand the words or phrases being spoken.

As we age and gain more experience, our ability to discern subtle differences in sound becomes more refined. For instance, as a toddler, we learn to distinguish the voices of our parents from others. Discriminative listening skills enable us to distinguish between languages, as well as accents and dialects from varying regions.

Having strong discriminative listening skills is crucial in distinguishing between various sounds, such as those conveying emotions like terror, amusement, or anger. Additionally, it aids us in comprehending foreign languages, making it an essential aspect of language learning. It's why individuals often find it easier to speak their native language compared to a foreign one.

This is because they don’t know the subtle sounds important for learning a language, which a child learn even before they learn the meaning of the words.

#2. Comprehensive Listening:

Comprehensive listening involves the ability to discern the meaning behind various sounds. While it is a more advanced skill than discriminative listening, it is still a crucial aspect of all forms of listening. To effectively engage in comprehensive listening, one must possess a strong grasp of language, including an expansive vocabulary, knowledge of grammar rules, and understanding of syntax. Additionally, paying attention to body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions is essential in fully comprehending what someone is communicating.

Having strong discriminative listening abilities is crucial for developing proficient comprehensive listening skills. Those who can distinguish between different tones are better equipped to comprehend the intended meaning of words than those who cannot discern such nuances. This skill is especially important for language learners, as failing to recognize tonal differences can hinder one's ability to speak a foreign language fluently and naturally. Despite diligent effort, such individuals may struggle to achieve the same level of proficiency as a native speaker.

These were the two basic types of listening in the article ahead you will learn about the specific forms or types of listening. Let us learn about them one by one.

#3. Informational Listening:

In a classroom setting, students engage in informational listening, which involves actively processing both verbal and non-verbal messages in order to acquire new knowledge and information.

When individuals take notes while listening, it is referred to as goal-oriented listening. This type of listening falls under the category of informational listening as the focus is solely on obtaining the information rather than processing and critically analyzing it. This type of listening is commonly observed in the corporate setting during speeches, briefings, and reports.

#4. Biased Listening:

Informational listening is considered as a passive type of listening when compared to other listening types. The primary focus during this type of listening is to absorb and retain new information or instructions, rather than critically analyzing or questioning what is being communicated.

#5. Critical Listening:

When someone listens to the thoughts of others with preconceived notions or stereotypes, it is called biased listening. This type of listening can lead to the listener being overly judgmental of what the speaker is saying.

When it comes to listening, there are two main types: informational and critical. While informational listening involves simply receiving new information, critical listening takes it a step further. In this type of listening, the listener not only receives new information and facts, but also analyzes and evaluates what is being said, providing their own judgment about it. This makes critical listening a more active and engaging form of listening.

The listener needs to engage in critical listening to fully comprehend the idea and ask questions to clarify any doubts. This helps in making informed decisions and ensures that all perspectives are taken into account. Therefore, critical listening is an essential skill that not only helps in learning but also in making effective decisions in various settings.

During presentations, attendees actively engage by not only listening but also asking questions to gain a better understanding of the employee's thought process and provide suggestions for improvement. To ensure effective communication, it is essential to approach critical listening with an open mind and avoid relying on preconceived stereotypes or ideas.

#6. Appreciative Listening:

Incorporating appreciative listening into conversations can lead to a more positive and constructive exchange of ideas. This type of listening involves actively seeking out reasons to appreciate the speaker and encouraging them to provide more information. A teacher may use this approach when teaching public speaking to boost their students' confidence. Additionally, when receiving useful information, appreciative listening can help ensure that the speaker feels acknowledged and valued, resulting in a more productive conversation.

One more example of appreciative listening is when you listen to a piece of good music or poetry.

#7. Empathic Listening:

To truly engage in empathic listening, one must make a conscious effort to connect with and understand the thoughts and feelings of the speaker. This goes beyond simply feeling sorry for someone and requires a deeper level of emotional intelligence and communication skills. Empathic listening is a valuable tool for building strong interpersonal relationships and fostering understanding and connection between individuals.

Counselors and therapists employ a form of listening that focuses on the client's perspective without judgment or advice-giving. This reflective approach helps clients avoid misunderstandings and strengthens relationships with family and friends. By offering empathy during difficult times, you can provide support and help them navigate challenging phases with greater ease.

#8. Sympathetic listening:

Empathetic listening involves showing genuine concern for the person you are listening to. When you sympathize, you acknowledge their pain and offer support to help them move forward. Even if you don't fully relate to their situation, you make an effort to lift their spirits and bring joy back into their life.

When close friends engage in this type of listening, it can be a powerful and comforting experience. One friend may lend a listening ear to another who is struggling with disappointment or failure, such as after a failed job interview or exam.

#9. Active listening:

Active listening is a crucial component of effective communication that encourages engagement and participation in the listening process. It involves asking questions, paraphrasing, and offering feedback to the speaker to ensure a clear understanding of their message and to encourage them to share more information.

#10. Casual Listening:

Active participation in listening is highly valued in both professional and academic settings as it enhances the usefulness and effectiveness of the information obtained through this process.

#11. Partial Listening:

Passive listening occurs when the listener displays little to no interest in the speaker's message. This type of listening often occurs when one is obligated to listen rather than being genuinely engaged. The level of attention given can vary among individuals.

#12. Initial Listening:

This type of listening, known as partial listening, occurs when the listener is physically present but mentally distracted or preoccupied with other thoughts. Studies have shown that individuals with highly creative minds tend to engage in partial listening more frequently.

Initial listening is a type of listening where the listener listens less and seek for the chances to interrupt the speaker either by responding or by asking questions.

#13. Inactive listening:

Passive listening involves not giving one's full attention to the speaker, instead, focusing on other thoughts or distractions. This type of listening lacks engagement and does not involve asking questions or seeking clarification for a better understanding of the topic at hand.

#14. Selective Listening:

Selective listening is a fascinating form of listening where individuals only listen to what they want to hear and easily disregard anything that they consider unimportant.

Listening selectively carries negative implications, portraying the listener as lacking empathy and attentiveness. Selective listeners are not uncommon and can be observed in various settings, such as classrooms and workplaces. Those who choose to listen selectively often unintentionally cause harm to their loved ones.

#15. Rapport Listening:

Empathetic listening occurs when you are genuinely interested in the speaker's perspective and feelings. It involves being present in the conversation, actively listening to the speaker, and responding thoughtfully and sensitively to what they say.

Rapport listening aims to gain a deeper understanding of the person and strengthen the relationship. This type of listening is typically reserved for close and special relationships.

#16. Reflective listening:

This type of listening is an example of listening where you listen as well as reflect on the thoughts and ideas convey by the person.

#17. False Listening:

Pretend listening is a common behavior where the listener appears to be engaged but is not actually paying attention to what is being said. It can be challenging to determine whether someone is truly listening as they may nod, smile, or make other gestures that suggest they are paying attention.

Individuals such as politicians, royalty, and celebrities often possess a skill for this particular type of listening. Their objective is to impress those in their presence as efficiently as possible and then move on, without any intention of meeting them again in the future, thereby avoiding any potential consequences of their behavior. This type of listening is frequently observed in couples who have grown accustomed to one another.

#18. Deep Listening:

Active listening involves not only hearing the words being spoken, but also interpreting the speaker's underlying emotions, beliefs, and intentions. This requires reading between the lines and understanding the full meaning of the communication.

Thank you for reading our article about listening communications.