Critical Listening Bibliography Excerpt: Part 1

My minor during my undergraduate program was speech. In my Critical Listening course, we were asked to create a bibliography.

Thesis: The focus of my bibliography was to find sources that examine student activities and how to effectively listen and respond to the needs of undergraduate college students as an advisor in student activities. Here is an excerpt of one of the resources discussed.

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Hesselbein, F. (2006, May). The art of listening. Leadership Excellence. p. 6.

The most important part of the article is the sense that listening is extremely important when creating good relationships with others. The best way to do this, according to the author, is to follow this advice: "If wisdom's ways you would wisely seek, these five things observe with care: of whom you speak, to whom you speak, how, when, and where." When others are speaking to us, we should give them our undivided attention.

Our focus should be on them; listen carefully to the words spokes as well as the "unspoken messages." Also, we should respond expressively. By being in the moment, we are giving--and are more likely to receive--respect, appreciation, and anticipation, which makes way for good leadership. Learn what others value. Creating a connection is part of listening, and this connection is most successful when it's circular.

The key to growing a productive relationship is positive feedback. Banish the "but" and add "and" when giving criticism. Listen to your inner self: your intuition, your heart, and your spirit as well as your intellect. We cannot strengthen our relationships without these, and those who practice the art of diplomacy will not succeed unless their incorporate the act of effective listening as well.

Evaluation

The information is reliable and current: the act of listening with care is timeless. It is based on objectivity; the author wants to encourage others to listen as a means to create successful relationships based on her experience in leadership development. The article is directed towards pop culture but is scholarly for those in the leadership field.

The author is very qualified. Frances Hesselbein is the President and CEO of the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute. In 2009, she was appointed the Class of 1951 Chair for the Study of Leadership a the United States Military Academy of West Point. Hesselbein was awarded the International Leadership Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in Los Angeles and the Tempo International Leadership Award in New York City in 2008. She was also Editor-in-Chief of quarterly journal Leader to Leader and co-edited 28 books about leadership. Hesselbein is also the recipient of twenty-two honorary doctorate degrees.

This article fits the thesis perfectly. It speaks of how to relate to others in a manner that befits all parties involved. In order to be a successful student activities advisor, I must be willing to understand that creating a connection with my students and understanding their values is just as important as hearing the words that come out of their mouths. The article was not very scholarly, but fits the criteria for my bibliography. She is general in that she speaks of relationships instead of those with students.

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