Unit 7: Communication Skills

Attending Behaviors : Non-Reflective Listening

Attending behaviors are an important part of listening. They show the speaker that you are paying
attention and are interested in the topic at hand. Although they are very important to effective listening, they can be accomplished fairly easily, by:

• Facing the speaker,
• Establishing eye contact,
• Minimizing distractions (e.g., refusing to see other visitors or to take phone calls).
• Demonstrating positive body language (e.g., leaning forward in your chair).

Nonreflective listening communicates to the speaker acceptance, interest, and understanding.