A field study of listening needs in organizations

This research reports the results of a survey administered to the training directors of 250 randomly selected Fortune 500 companies. The results indicate that the training directors perceived inadequate listening skills and lack of listening training in the “typical”; organization member. Data reveal perceptions of the relationship between listening and performance, causes of listening problems, and, most importantly, areas of concentration to be included in a listening component of potential communication training programs in organizations or in organizational communication curricula.