In todays times, everyone seems to be caught in the web of effective speech or the art of speaking. But, how often do people think that "LISTENING" is an equally, if not more important component of effective communication??

Of what use is free speech if there is no one to listen?? It is impossible for communication to occur without someone receiving a message.

Listening has been found to be linked to success be it at home, school, college, work place or on the personal front. A lot of misunderstanding, heartburn and failure could be avoided by effective listening.

Yet, we tend to ignore the subtle hint that nature has provided us with .. " Two ears and one mouth".. Obviously to listen twice as much as we speak...

Many a times HEARING is considered synonymous with listening. But hearing is just the first of the five steps in the process of listening.

The process of listening is completed through:

1) Hearing : here in sound waves strike the eardrum and cause vibrations

2) Attending: Is the act of paying attention to the signal

3) Understanding : Is the process of making sense of the message

4) Responding: Means giving bservable feedback to the sspeaker and finally the last step in the listenin process is

5) Remembering

Listening is said to have occured only when all the steps have been followed. Though HEARING is a natural process, listening needs effort and practice. Hence the general assumption that listening is a passive process is not true.

Based on their style and habit various types of listeners could be identified... (  this is purely based on my observation )

PSEUDO LISTENERS:

Are those who give an appearance of being attentive by using a polite facade to mask thoughts. They may even nod and answer occasionally. Such listeners are invariably seen in most classes while Teaching. ( I very often fall in this category especially when my cousin has something to tell me.. and i am totally engrossed in my mobile.. I would have no idea of what she says but and yet i keep nodding my head... ts a different thing that she has caught my trick off late.. and questions time and again about what she just said .. so i am forced to listen)

SELECTIVE LISTENERS:

Respond only to parts of conversation that interest them, rejecting everything else. Generally seen among spouses.

DEFENSIVE LISTENERS.

Take innocent cmments as personal attacks. eg. Teenagers who perceive parents' questions about friends as snooping, get defensive.

AMBUSHERS

Are those that listen carefully because they are collecting information to attack what you say. The classic eg. Being cross questioned during exams

INSULATED LISTENERS

Would rather not deal with a topic. If you remind them about a problem - perhaps an unfinished job, poor grades etc. they will nod and promptly forget what you have just said.

INSENSITIVE LISTENERS

Are not able to look beyond the words and behavior to understad their hidden meanings ad take remarks at face value.

STAGE HOGS

Generally keep interrupting conversations  to turn the topic to themselves instead of showing interest in the speaker.

One can try and become a better listener by understanding some reasons one listens poorly and identifying and minimizing the above faulty listening behaviours.

So make a conscious effort to be an effective listener rather than an affective speaker, for a change.

Happy Listening!!!

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