Listening Self Inventory

This exercise is designed to help you review and describe your typical listening style. Read each question carefully and choose one of the five answers listed. Then read the explanation about scoring at the end of the exercise.

1. Research suggests that you think four times faster than a person usually talks to you. Do you use this excess time to turn your thoughts elsewhere while you are keeping track of the conversation?
   1. No
   2. Sometimes
   3. Usually
   4. Yes
   5. Don't know/unaware
      
      
2. Do you listen for the feelings behind facts when someone is speaking?
   1. Almost always
   2. Most of the time
   3. Not as much as I should
   4. Almost never
   5. Don't know/unaware
   
   
   
3. Do you generally talk more than listen in an interchange with someone else?
   1. No
   2. Sometimes
   3. Usually
   4. Yes
   5. Don't know/unaware
      
      
4. When you are puzzled or annoyed by what someone says, do you try to get the question straightened out immediately, either in your own mind or by interrupting the speaker?
   1. No
   2. Sometimes
   3. Usually
   4. Yes
   5. Don't know/unaware
      
      
5. If you feel that it would take a lot of time and effort to understand something, do you go out of your way to avoid hearing about it?
   1. Seldom
   2. Sometimes
   3. Often
   4. Very frequently
   5. Don't know/unaware
   
   
   
6. Do emotions interfere with your listening?
   1. No
   2. Sometimes
   3. Usually
   4. Yes
   5. Don't know/unaware
      
      
7. Do you deliberately turn your thoughts to other subjects when you believe a speaker will have nothing particularly interesting to say?
   1. Seldom
   2. Sometimes
   3. Often
   4. Very frequently
   5. Don't know/unaware
   
   
   
8. When someone is talking to you, do you try to make him/her think you're paying attention when you are not?
   1. Seldom
   2. Sometimes
   3. Often
   4. Very frequently
   5. Don't know/unaware
   
   
   
9. When you are listening to someone, are you easily sidetracked by outside distractions (people and events)?
   1. Seldom
   2. Sometimes
   3. Often
   4. Very frequently
   5. Don't know/unaware
   
   
   
10. Do you listen carefully to the opinions of others, though you may intend to take exception to something later on?
    1. Almost always
    2. Most of the time
    3. Not as much as I should
    4. Almost never
    5. Don't know/unaware
    
    
    
11. When listening to someone who speaks with an accent, do you make a greater effort to concentrate on what the person is saying?
    1. Almost always
    2. Most of the time
    3. Not as much as I should
    4. Almost never
    5. Don't know/unaware
    
    
    
12. When you are listening to someone speak, do you make a conscious effort to make and keep ye contact with the speaker?
    1. Almost always
    2. Most of the time
    3. Not as much as I should
    4. Almost never
    5. Don't know/unaware

Scoring:
If most of your answers were a or b you probably possess good listening skills and the ability to concentrate and to recognize the speaker's emotions. If most answers were c, d, or e, you need to develop these characteristics more fully.

Reproduced from "50 Activities for Diversity Training" by Jonamay Lambert and Selma Myers. HRD Press, 1994.

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