Listening
The importance of good listening
Presentation
To demonstrate listening while doing a presentation you will need to answer a few questions. This can be done during your presentation or, more likely, after it. As it will be on a subject that you have prepared – probably you will know the topic in much more detail than your audience – this should not prove to be too challenging.
Listen carefully to what the questioners ask and consider before replying. Try not to give just one word answers: your own listening is being assessed here, and you will need to give a clear demonstration of it by giving a reasonably extended response.
Group discussion
To demonstrate listening in group discussion you need to pay attention to what is being said.
If you hear a point being made that you agree with, say so, and add a reason why you think so. This clearly shows you have been listening.
If the point made is something you disagree with, introduce your thoughts with an opening phrase such as:
- “I disagree with X, because…”
- “I can’t completely agree with that because…”
- “Don’t you think that…”
It is also fine to follow a previous point directly with agreement, eg:
- “I totally agree with that because…”
- “That's a very important point because…”
