Active Listening Flashcards
6 cards from real Communication & Teamwork practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Active Listening flashcards as text
What is the 'SOLER' model used for in active listening?
Answer: A framework for demonstrating attentive listening through body language: Squarely face, Open posture, Lean slightly, Eye contact, Relax
The SOLER model describes physical behaviors that signal attentive listening: facing the speaker squarely, maintaining an open posture, leaning slightly forward, maintaining eye contact, and staying relaxed.
What is the 'ladder of inference' and how does it affect listening?
Answer: A model showing how people rapidly move from raw data to conclusions by adding assumptions and interpretations that may distort the original message
The ladder of inference illustrates how listeners quickly layer assumptions and interpretations onto a message, often climbing far from the original facts to reach conclusions that may be inaccurate.
What is 'deep listening' and how does it differ from surface-level listening?
Answer: Deep listening means attending to the full meaning, emotion, and intent behind a message, not just the literal words
Deep listening goes beyond words to understand the speaker's emotional state, underlying intent, and unspoken needs, which leads to more empathetic and effective responses.
How does multitasking affect the quality of active listening in professional settings?
Answer: Multitasking reduces cognitive resources available for listening, significantly degrading comprehension and retention
Research consistently shows that multitasking during conversations — such as checking a phone — significantly reduces comprehension and message retention.
What is the purpose of 'summarizing' in active listening?
Answer: To consolidate the key points of what was shared, confirming mutual understanding and signaling that the speaker was heard
Summarizing the key points of what a speaker has shared confirms that you understood them accurately and gives them a chance to correct any misunderstanding.
Which of the following is an example of a barrier to active listening in a team meeting?
Answer: Mentally rehearsing counterarguments while the speaker is still talking
Rehearsing rebuttals while the speaker is still talking consumes cognitive resources that should be dedicated to understanding the message.