GPEAK I - CS - Communication Acronym

​Look at the Top Ten Obstacles to Listening (below). Develop an acronym that will help you to be a better listener. An acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word. Here is an example.


FLIP
F – Focus on the words
L – Look at the speaker
I – Intention, why is the person speaking?
P – Push away wandering thoughts and own agenda

​Top Ten Obstacles to Listening

10. The thought that I’m being given advice that I don’t want or need.

9. Distracted by pre-conceptions. Thinking: “I hate exaggeration” or “I already know all this.” .

8. Chasing squirrels – the conversation makes you think about something else that you need to do.

7. Getting lost. Thinking: “I have no clue about what is being said” or “Is anybody else lost?”

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6. It’s all about me.
Thinking: “What’s in it for me?” or “What do you want from me?” or “Did I do something wrong?”

5. Negative thoughts about the speaker.
Thinking: “You are just throwing your weight around” or “It takes you so long to get to the point” or “All they do is complain.”

4. Totally bored – don’t care about the subject, don’t see the relevance.

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3. Busy – just don’t think you have the time for the conversation.

2. Multi-tasking – continue working or doing something else when the person is speaking.

1. Thinking about what you are going to say or how you will respond. What is keeping you from being an attentive listener?

Open Ended

Create your own acronym that will help you be a better learner.

Your acronym must be AT LEAST four (4) letters long.

Open Ended

Which of the Top Ten Obstacles did you identify as the top one for you? Why?

Open Ended

1. How can you become a better listener?

Open Ended

1. How can you become a better speaker?

Open Ended

1. What reasoning did you use to select the letters and meanings for your acronym?

Open Ended

1. What strategies can you use to make the speaking and listening interaction be more positive?