OA Quiz: Are You a Good Listener?

When your boss comes to you with a request, do you give her your undivided attention? Or, do you pretend to listen intently, but actually disregard everything she has said? Let's face it: In the business world, it pays to be a good listener. After all, it's impossible to perform a job correctly if you don't know what's expected of you. So, are you interested in knowing whether your listening skills need improvement? Take this quiz to find out.

Instructions:

Read each statement and select an answer that best describes what you would do in the situation. Although you may not find one that describes you perfectly, choose the one that works best.

1. Be honest: How often do you check your e-mail, BlackBerry, etc. when you're on a business call?

A. All of the time. I get too antsy if I can't check my messages.

B. Sometimes. If the call is extremely important, I'll try to give it my undivided attention. If it's not, I'll multitask and check my messages.

C. Not very often. When I'm on a business call, I pay attention to the speaker - not my BlackBerry.

2. Your coworker's in the midst of lamenting about her poor performance review when your cell phone trills. You:

A. Mouth "I'm sorry," and answer the call.

B. Politely explain that you're expecting an important call, but promise to finish the conversation once you're off the phone.

C. Ignore it. You don't want to cause her any more distress by blowing off her problems. After all, you wouldn't want somebody to do that to you.

3. You're packing up for the day when your oh-so-talkative coworker comes by to discuss a project you're collaborating on. You:

A. Tell her that you're running late and ask her to update you via e-mail.

B. Speak with her for about five minutes and then make a beeline for the front door.

C. Allow her to briefly express her concerns about the project and then set up a meeting with her for the following morning.

4. You missed last week's business-development meeting because you were out sick. You ask your coworker to fill you in on what you missed, but he's not providing you with any concrete information. Frustrated, you:

A. Cut him off and state that you'll just ask another meeting-goer to enlighten you about the meeting.

B. Interrupt him to explain that you don't understand what he's trying to say and ask for clarification.

C. Attempt to repeat back to him what he has said once there's a lull in the conversation.

5. When you're conversing with someone, do you often use nonverbal cues to show that you're listening?

A. Not really. All that matters is that I hear what the speaker's saying.

B. Sometimes. I try to maintain good eye contact, but I don't routinely use any other cues to communicate that I'm listening.

C. Yes, frequently. I'm constantly aware of my body language and attempt to use other gestures, such as nodding and smiling, to convey that I'm paying attention to the speaker.

Count the number of A's, B's and C's on your list.

If mostly A's appeared on your list: Listen up: Your listening skills need some serious work. Although you may not realize the impact your behavior's having on your career, chances are that it's severely affecting your professional success. Fortunately, we're here to help. Learn how to be a good listener in this informative article.

If mostly B's appeared on your list: Although your listening skills aren't terrible, they could certainly use some improvement. For instance, did you know that there's a big difference between listening and hearing? It's true! Consider implementing easy communication strategies - such as nodding when others are speaking and refusing to interrupt them - and notice how they positively respond to you. Most likely, you'll be well on your way to being a top-notch listener.

If mostly C's appeared on your list: Congratulations, you're a fantastic listener! Thanks to your stellar communication skills, your coworkers (and boss!) consider you a consummate professional who demonstrates great empathy toward others. Keep up the great work and be sure to share your secrets to success with the OfficeArrow community!