Demonstrating a listening climate

In addition to actually listening carefully, managers must also seem to be listening and,

establish a climate that demonstrates receptivity. Without this climate, the

communication environment in an office can become like that in many homes:

Parent: Why don’t you ever tell us what you are doing?

.child: I do, but you don’t listen. You’re always so

busy.

Parent: We’re never too busy to listen to you, but just

don’t seem to want to tell us anything.

Are the parents too busy to listen, or do they just act too busy? The same is true with

many managers. Is it possible that they act too busy to listen? A manager may

unintentionally establish a non-listening climate by subtle behaviour that says to the

subordinate, “Why talk if nobody is listening?”

While a manager is responsible for a tremendous amount of infonnation and spends as

much as 50 per cent of her working day listening, she cannot listen if nobody is talking.

Managers need to demonstrate a listening climate to motivate people to “open up.”

Consequently, man(igers should strive to eliminate listening habits that discoUrage

communication. A listener demonstrating these behaviours is not exhibiting a positive

communication climate; consequently, the speaker may not feel he is being listened to.

This list can serve as a personal checklist for managers to see if they demonstrate any

of the irritating behaviours.