Knowledge at Wharton Are Bad Listeners Actually Bad at Listening?
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May 19, 2025 Rebecca (Becky) Schaumberg, a Wharton professor specializing in interpersonal communication, sheds light on the intriguing dynamics of listening and disagreement. She explains how the perception of listening often hinges on agreement rather than actual skills. Engaging research reveals that listeners who disagree may be unfairly labeled as bad listeners. This conversation dives into the importance of recognizing authentic engagement in communication, especially in leadership, challenging the misconception that agreement equates to understanding.
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Agreement Equals Good Listening
- People judge listeners as good or bad based largely on whether they agree or disagree with the speaker.
- This occurs even if the listening behavior is identical and shows understanding regardless of agreement.
Listening vs. Agreement in Workplaces
- Listening in the workplace is a tool for exchanging information, not just for affirmation.
- The perception of good listening is often conflated with agreement, which undermines true information exchange.
Experimental Setup with Trained Listeners
- Researchers ran 11 experiments with over 3,000 participants discussing various topics like workplace issues and politics.
- Listeners were trained actors who listened identically but differed in agreement to test perception of listening.