Week 5: Evaluating Listening Skills & Nonverbal Behavior (Revised)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/active-listening-skills-steven-norton

   Culture could affect the way of how one listen due to the different life experiences or exposure they went through since young. Before I continue, I have prepared a video below that might aid you to further understand on active listening and non-verbal communications, and how they affect the conversations in our daily lives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsxVK_DypBc

   Allow me to share one of the observations I made of my parents, Just like most families, my parents would share how their day went with each other - something bizarre, something funny, something pleasant etc. However, during their conversation, my mother and I realized that my father does not have the habit of maintaining eye contact. Such act would cause frustration in my mother and creates tension between them as she might feel that he was not giving his utmost attention.

   I strongly believe that my father's act stated above was due to the family environment that he lived in since he was a child. My father was greatly exposed to such act as his father did the same to my grandmother during any conversation. However, my grandmother did not take it too personally towards my grandfather as compared to my mother. This was another observation I made. Such acts or practices like failing to maintain eye contact was not informed of and corrected, hence, I feel that my father perceived it to be acceptable.

   In conclusion, based on the observation I had made on others relating to today's topic, I learned how culture could affect the style of active listening skills in someone. We must be aware of our own individual style of active listening skills and change it, if it's poor, to prevent any misunderstandings in future conversations.