How well do you listen?

Learning Objectives

After considering this resource, you should be aware of how well you listen to conversations, where your strengths lie and identify areas for development.

Two people talking

Healy (2012, p.23) argues: 'Perhaps the most important skill a social worker has is the capacity to listen well.' Not only do you need to listen well though, you need to demonstrate you are listening to the service user, which can be shown through:

  • Creating a physical environment, free from distractions and interruptions
  • Approaching a conversation with an open mind, which may require you to let go of pre-existing assumptions
  • Encouraging the service user to express themselves, which you can facilitate through non-verbal communication and focused questions. (Healy, 2012, p.24)

How good do you feel your listening skills are currently? The following exercise encourages you to consider your listening skills and can help you identify your strengths and areas for development.

Download: Preparation for practice

Reflective Questions

  1. How did the physical environment impact on the conversations you chose?
  2. What have you learned about your strengths as a listener? Talk to friend, fellow students and perhaps even service users - what would they identify as your strengths and weaknesses?
  3. What have you learned about areas for further development? How can you make improvements? How can you measure this?
  4. In day-to-day social work practice, why is being a skilled listener so important to a professional social worker?'

Reference:
K Healy (2012) Social Work Methods and Skills: The Essential Foundations of Practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Preparation for practice