The way communicate has the potential to build up or tear down our relationships. Listening is crucial for all effective communication. If we don’t listen effectively, messages can be easily misunderstood and communications break down, leading to frustrations and rifts in relationships. If there’s one communication skill we should aim to master-it’s listening!
We might have often felt that we got easily distracted while interacting with others. When interacting with others, it can be very easy to get distracted. Active listening is a skill that is difficult to master and requires time and patience to develop. It requires a conscious effort to hear not only the words that the other person is saying but, more importantly, doing your best to understand the message they’re communicating.
Hearing and Listening are not the Same
Hearing refers to the sounds that we hear as opposed to listening which requires that we pay attention to the meaning of what we’re hearing. Listening means that consider not just the words that are being spoken, but how they are being spoken-the use of voice, language, and body language.
“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply”.-Stephen Covey
An effective listener will listen not just to what’s being said, but also to what is not being said, or perhaps even what is partially being said. Effective listening requires that we pay close attention to inconsistencies between verbal and non-verbal messages.
ARE YOU A GOOD LISTENER?
OR WANNA ENHANCE YOUR LISTENING SKILLS?
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME.
“The first step to improving your listening skills is to stop talking. It is very difficult to talk and listen at the same time.”
I genuinely do understand when clients say they’re looking for a change, but don’t know what it is yet or how to achieve it. Because I have been there, done that and thankfully was lucky enough to walk away to now be doing a job where I never have to think “Thank God it’s Friday (TGIF).”
