Teaching Listening in Organizational Communication Courses

Instructors in organizational communication courses often acknowledge the critical importance of listening and cover various listening practices such as receiving information, hearing feedback, inviting input, and considering others’ views. However, our textbooks, and likely our courses, lack detailed attention to the processes, systems, and practices of quality listening. In this essay, we present a rationale for developing and enhacing teaching about listening in organizational leadership, team communication, and external organizational communication. Each section includes examples of activities that instructors can use to enhance listening pedagogy in organizational-related communication courses.