Active Listening in Construction Projects

Active Listening in Construction Projects

• Active listening is crucial for project success
• Team members may misinterpret requests, leading to issues or concerns
• Active listening is more than just hearing the words; involves considering how the receiver will interpret the information

Importance of Active Listening

• Team members may claim to understand instructions, only to misunderstand them later and not express issues.
• Active listening prevents misunderstandings, resolves issues early, and builds stronger relationships.

Context of Active Listening

• Active listening involves carefully considering how the receiver will interpret the information being relayed.
• Understanding the subtle differences between spoken words and their underlying meaning.
• The meaning conveyed often differs from the words used.

What is Active Listening?

• A conscious effort to hear, understand, and retain information
• More than just listening to words; requires analyzing the information consciously.

Objectives of Active Listening

• Understanding nuanced communication between multiple parties.
• Understanding the role culture plays.
• Understanding the implications of poor listening on build projects.
• Building self-awareness to improve active listening ability.

Peter Drucker's Opinion on Communication

• "The most important thing in communication is hearing what is not said."

Albert Mehrabian's Nonverbal Communication and its elements.

• Three elements that determine the impact of a message:
  • 55% Facial Expression
  • 38% Tone of Voice
  • 7% Words

The Four Elements of Communication

• Sender, Message, Channel, Receiver
• Information transmission is subjective as well as objective.

As a Receiver

• Receivers tend to prioritize portions of the message without fully considering the Sender's intent.

Three Principles of Effective Communication

• Consider personal traits when transmitting a message
• What people say may differ from what others hear
• Effective listening is essential for both senders and receivers

Know Your Audience

• Different cultures express and understand information differently
• Consider cultural context, body language, and communication styles

A Different Interpretation

• Miscommunication can arise from recipients misunderstanding the sender's intentions.
• Listeners and receivers are equally responsible for ensuring effective conveyance and interpretation of the message.
• Active listening lets you understand when words have different meanings for sender and receiver.

Building Relationships

• Project success hinges on building personal relationships.
• Active listening strengthens relationships.

Reflect

• Evaluate your communicative skills using a 1–10 scale, 1 being poor and 10 being excellent.
• Self-assess strengths and areas for improvement in your communications

Improving Active Listening Skills and Practices

• Allocate time for listening.
• Build trust and maintain open communication.
• Listen attentively and respond with relevant questions.

Create Time for Listening

• Time dedicated to listening is key for project managers to understand their team and stakeholders completely.
• Create trust and a culture of open communication for better collaboration.
• Dedicate sufficient time to listen actively.
• Pay close attention to what others communicate.

Listen with Intent to Understand

• Build accountability and proactivity in project management by practicing active listening.
• Listen with an open mind.
• Ask clarifying questions.
• Remain attentive for a deeper understanding.

Avoid Interruptions and Limit Distractions

• Phone notifications, instant messaging, and the perception of immediate responses disrupt focused conversation.
• Disconnecting distractions promotes better concentration during in-person conversations.
• Schedule uninterrupted time for important conversations.

Don't Multitask

• Multitasking reduces ability to block distractions and concentrate on singular tasks.

Repeat for Validation

• Practicing repeating what's been said solidifies comprehension and ensures retention.
• In group discussions, this practice is prevalent but important.

Choices in How We Listen

• Natural reactions like disagreement or rushing to solutions hinder effective communication.
• Listen with intent and avoid quick interpretations to ensure comprehensive understanding.
• Maintain an open mind to avoid jumping to conclusions.

Culture Plays a Role in How We Communicate

• Various cultures bring different backgrounds and perspectives to projects.
• Be aware of cultural differences in communication to facilitate inclusivity and effectiveness.

Understanding People's Tolerance for Ambiguity

• Some people are more comfortable with undefined details or outcomes.
• Others prefer unambiguous tasks with clear details.

Listen for Passive Resistance

• Passive resistance arises when someone aligns with a message but strategically attempts to undermine it.
• Passive resistance might manifest as apparent agreement without actual agreement.

Meanwhile on Avocet Island ...

• This is not a section covering a topic.

Using Active Listening with the Avocet Island Stakeholders

• Determine which active listening skills could be violated by stakeholders.

Monisha Klarewill

• CEO of a multinational development company
• Prioritizes deadlines and professional standards.

Carson Rachelsen

• Focused on protecting the environment of Avocet Island
• Wants to end the project.

Francesco Gehri and Wright Francis

• Want high-level updates.
• Only need details if problems arise.

Edison Lumos

• Avocet native project leader.
• Works well beyond technical requirements.

Wrapping Up Active Listening

• Emphasize active listening's role in project dynamics.
• Highlights active listening's role.

Active Listening: Key Takeaways

• Nuanced communication across parties requires sensitivity and understanding.
• Actively consider cultural effects.
• Poor listening impacts projects.
• Building self-awareness helps cultivate improved active listening.

Up Next: Establishing a Governance Structure

• Preparation for an upcoming topic about governance structures.