Score yourself on the following 20 questions - circling your response to each question.

Attitudes Almost
always Almost
Never
1 Do you like to listen to other people talk? 5 4 3 2 1
2 Do you encourage other people to talk? 5 4 3 2 1
3 Do you listen, even if you do not like the person who is talking? 5 4 3 2 1
4 Do you listen equally well whether the person talking is man or woman, young or old, black or white? 5 4 3 2 1
5 Do you listen equally well to a friend, acquaintance and stranger? 5 4 3 2 1
Actions
6 Do you put what you have been doing out of sight and out of mind? 5 4 3 2 1
7 Do you look at the speaker? 5 4 3 2 1
8 Do you try to ignore the distractions about you? 5 4 3 2 1
9 Do you smile, nod your head, and otherwise encourage the speaker to talk? 5 4 3 2 1
10 Do you think about what is being said? 5 4 3 2 1
Comprehension
11 Do you try to understand what the speaker means? 5 4 3 2 1
12 Do you try to understand why the speaker is trying to communicate? 5 4 3 2 1
13 Do you let the speaker finish what they are trying to say? 5 4 3 2 1
14 If the speaker hesitates do you encourage them to go on? 5 4 3 2 1
15 Do you restate what is being said to check your understanding? 5 4 3 2 1
Evaluation
16 Do you withhold judgement about ideas until the speaker is finished? 5 4 3 2 1
17 Do you listen, regardless of the manner of speaking and choice of words? 5 4 3 2 1
18 Do you listen, even though you anticipate what the speaker is going to day? 5 4 3 2 1
19 Do you question the speaker in order to get a full explanation of the ideas? 5 4 3 2 1
20 Do you ask the speaker to define technical or unfamiliar words he uses? 5 4 3 2 1
Column Totals
Grand Total

Assessment

If you scored less than 50, I am surprised anyone bothers to talk to you! If you scored between 50 and 70, you are in danger of losing contact with those around. Over 70 and you are a good listener. Keep it up!

Whatever your score in total, pay special attention to those areas which you rated three or less.