
Hearing is basically the act of perceiving and receiving
sound waves through the ear. Listening is hearing the sound and processing it –
understanding it, interpreting it and putting meaning to it. Hearing is a
physical ability while listening is a skill.
Good listening skills are just as important as good speaking
skills. Everyone wants to talk but how many of us really take time to listen?
We’re busy, we’re distracted, we’ve heard it before, it’s noisy, there’s too
much activity going on and the list goes on. If we’re not careful, everything starts
to sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher – “waah, wah, wah, wah, wah waah.” We need to be aware that there are
consequences to not listening and they can be costly. Messages are not conveyed
properly, misunderstandings increase, instructions are misinterpreted, and
arguments ensue, productivity decreases, accidents happen.
Really listening
is a critical business skill. It can create business and personal relationships, bring about
understanding, solidify teams, helps close sales, expands learning, and can save
time and money – you get the picture.
Which category are you in; a good listener or a not so good
listener? To truly be successful requires listening, really listening to what
is being said. If your listening skills need some work, now is the perfect time
to take them to the next level. It can make all the difference in the world.
I will leave you with this quote from Andre Gide – “Everything
has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and
beginning all over again.”
Think about it.
Posted by MJ Thomas
Posted by MJ Thomas
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