Which type of listening is the most appropriate for this situation?

Through a virtual call with the Service Manager, a top consumer is complaining about the response time of the staff o delivering new laptops. However, all targets are met. The Service Manager listens to the issue, considers its importance, and proposes to review the Service Level Agreement.

Which type of listening is the most appropriate for this situation?
A . Positive Listening
B . Attentive Listening
C . Selective Listening
D . Empathic listening

View Answer

Answer: D

Explanation:

In ITIL 4, especially in the "Drive Stakeholder Value" module, empathic listening is crucial when dealing with customer complaints, especially when they concern service perceptions that are not fully addressed by meeting formal targets. Empathic listening involves fully understanding the customer’s feelings and concerns and responding in a way that shows genuine care and willingness to improve the service experience.

Option A (Incorrect): Positive Listening may involve an upbeat, affirmative approach but lacks the depth of understanding needed in this scenario.

Option B (Incorrect): Attentive Listening involves focusing on the speaker and their message but may not fully engage with the emotional content of the message.

Option C (Incorrect): Selective Listening refers to focusing on parts of the conversation, which is not appropriate in a situation requiring full understanding and empathy.

Option D (Correct): Empathic Listening is the correct answer. The Service Manager’s willingness to consider the importance of the issue and propose a review of the Service Level Agreement shows an understanding of the customer’s concerns beyond just the factual data.