Communication Strategies & Active Listening Flashcards
7 cards from real CPM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Communication Strategies & Active Listening flashcards as text
Which barrier to active listening is MOST common in professional mentoring settings?
Answer: Preoccupation with the mentor's own agenda or solutions
Mentors focused on providing solutions or staying on their own agenda often fail to fully hear what the mentee is communicating.
What does the acronym SOLER stand for in active listening models?
Answer: Sit squarely, Open posture, Lean in, Eye contact, Relax
SOLER (Egan's model) describes physical attending behaviors: Sit squarely, Open posture, Lean in, Eye contact, Relax.
A mentor wants to avoid appearing judgmental when a mentee shares a controversial decision. The BEST response is:
Answer: Use neutral, exploratory language such as 'Tell me more about how you arrived at that'
Neutral, exploratory language invites the mentee to elaborate without triggering defensiveness or shutting down disclosure.
Empathic listening differs from sympathetic listening in that empathic listening:
Answer: Focuses on understanding the mentee's perspective from their frame of reference
Empathic listening means understanding the speaker's viewpoint and feelings as they experience them, without projecting one's own feelings.
A mentee from a high-context culture relies heavily on indirect communication. An effective mentor should:
Answer: Attend to context, tone, and what is left unsaid as carefully as what is stated
High-context cultures communicate meaning through context and implication; effective mentors adapt by reading between the lines.
The primary purpose of summarizing at the end of a mentoring session is to:
Answer: Consolidate key insights, decisions, and next steps for mutual clarity
End-of-session summaries reinforce shared understanding and ensure both parties leave with aligned expectations.
When a mentee gives negative feedback about the mentoring relationship, the mentor's BEST immediate response is:
Answer: Listen without interrupting, acknowledge the feedback, and explore it together
Receiving feedback openly models the same listening skills mentors teach and strengthens the relationship through honesty.