Listening Is Essential: An Experiential Exercise on Listening Behaviors

Abstract

Listening has been identified as an important part of the communication process. Despite this recognition, it is still undertaught in the undergraduate management classroom. This article presents an exercise for introductory organizational behavior classrooms that helps illustrate the importance of listening behaviors (both verbal and nonverbal) to undergraduate students. Students communicate in pairs where restrictions are placed on both the speaker and the listener. Through this experience, and class discussion around the exercise, students are helped to see the value of listening behaviors. The exercise fits well as a way of introducing the topics of listening and listening behaviors. Potential variations of the exercise are discussed, based on instructor preference and course needs.