What are the four stages of the SIER listening model?

• A. Sensing, Interpreting, Evaluating, Responding.
• B. Sensing, Attending, Interpreting, Reacting.
• C. Sensing, Interpreting, Attending, Responding.
• D. Observing, Interpreting, Evaluating, Responding.

Answer: (A)

The sequence starts with sensing what the speaker is saying and picking up nonverbal cues. This is the foundation of active listening: you notice both content and the body language, tone, and pace that accompany the message. Next is interpreting, where you derive meaning from what you heard, considering context, intent, and potential ambiguities to understand what the speaker truly means. After that comes evaluating, which involves judging the credibility, relevance, and significance of the information, while also recognizing your own biases or emotional reactions. Finally, you respond, using the insight you’ve gathered to give feedback, paraphrase, ask clarifying questions, or offer support that moves the conversation forward.

Why this order makes sense: you cannot accurately evaluate or respond without first sensing and interpreting what was said. By sensing, you collect the data; by interpreting, you attach meaning to it; by evaluating, you decide how much weight to give it and what it implies for your next move; and by responding, you communicate your understanding and help the conversation proceed productively. In this model, attending or observing notions are not the defined stages; the focused sequence is sensing, interpreting, evaluating, then responding.