Are Bad Listeners Actually Bad at Listening?

Knowledge at Wharton

Episode Description

ABOUT THE EPISODE Professor Rebecca Schaumberg discusses her research conducted with PhD student Zhiying (Bella) Ren on how people often mistake disagreement for poor listening. Across 11 experiments with over 3,000 participants, the study found that listeners who agreed with speakers were rated as better listeners—even when actual listening behavior was identical. The findings reveal a common communication bias with implications for leadership, workplace dialogue, and negotiations.

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Brief Summary

Listeners perceived as better when they agree, regardless of actual listening skills, according to Rebecca Schaumberg's research.

Key points

  • The Importance of Listening. Rebecca Schaumberg discusses her research on how agreement affects perceptions of listening.

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