Listening

“

 

           

The Art of Listening

A Short Workshop for Synodal Living 

 

by Allen Thyssen

June 2024

“Listening is not the act of hearing the word spoken.  It is

the art of understanding the meaning of the word spoken.”

                                                                     

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

“Interdependence is a higher value than independence.” (Stephen Covey)

 

This workshop manual is not a novel.  It is a synergetic collection of reference materials and personal experiences related to the subject of listening.  It is a mix of my original work and that of others who have come before me.  As such, it is not designed for any one particular workshop offering.  Rather, it will be used in a variety of settings all of which will be oriented to the skills of “Agape Flavored Active Listening.”

 

The best way to use this document is to check the Table of Contents and then go to whatever one is interested in.  

 

Where possible I have referenced the source of the materials presented.  Where I may have overlooked or not known the originating source, I beg the author’s understanding.

 

I especially value the review, advice, and content provided by the staff of Lifeline Chaplaincy, Dr. Glenn Boyd, Dr. Paul Riddle, and Cox Coaching without whom this manual could never have come about.

 

That said, it is my hope that “The Art of Listening” will prove helpful to anyone interested in this timely subject.

 

Allen R. Thyssen

Sugar Land, Texas

June 2024

 

Note: The content contained in this manual is the belief of the author alone and does not necessarily reflect that of any individual or other organization he may be associated with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“An effective conversation is 

like a ping-pong game.

A profound conversation is

like a waltz.” (Judy T. Cox)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Forward 3

 

Table of Contents 5

 

Introduction 7

 

Questionnaire: How Well Do You Listen?           11

 

Four Stages of Competence           13

 

The Art of Listening           15

 

Listening and Responding Effectively, A Primer           17

 

Active and Agape Listening           21

 

“Today I Will Listen” Poem           25

What Does the Bible Say?           27

 

Underpinning The Communication Process           29

 

“Listen!” Poem           35

 

The Listener’s Toolbox           37

 

Ten Types of Listening to Avoid at All Costs           43

 

The Rule of 21           45

 

Workshop Evaluation           47

 

         

“Perhaps there is no greater love than for a man or woman to close his or her mouth and open his or her ears and eyes, so that another may express himself or herself completely and freely.”  Tim VanDuivendyk

 

 

 

hygiene is important!”

Luke’s record o