A skill, according the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, is a learned power of doing something competently: a developed aptitude or ability. The skill of listening is a skill that I believe everyone should have but most people lack. Many people do not realize that listening is not merely the act of hearing a sound but of paying close attention to what someone is saying and trying to understand the message that they are trying to relate to you. Most times people say they are listening when in all actuality they are merely hearing you but not even attempting to understand what is being spoken of. The advantages of being a good listener are vast. This skill can positively affect many parts of our everyday life and interaction with people. Nevertheless, it is a skilled that is overlooked in today’s unmindful society. The reason I believe that listening is of such importance is because nowadays people have developed the mentality of “every man for himself.” People are not concerned about their fellows anymore. We are only concerned about our own issues and problems. Listening is a skill that is acquired throughout a lifetime. It is an important virtue when it comes to communication.People should be taught from childhood the importance of learning how to listen. If we realized how much we would benefit from being good listeners, I believe that things would change. Lack of listening skills affects marriages, parents and children, teachers and students, employers and employees, foreign affairs, and the list goes on. If a husband and wife learned to sit down and listen attentively to each other they could avoid many misunderstandings that oftentimes lead to disputes, separation and ultimately divorce. Lack of understanding between children and parents is a very frustrating situation. Parents find themselves unable to effectively and efficiently raise their children and provide guidance for them in situations that requires attention. If many teachers would strive at developing good listening skills there would be a decrease in the number of children that fall by the wayside unnoticed and never acquire a proper education. The skill of listening would prove very effective in the workplace because employers would realize what would motivate their employees and their employees would in turn be motivated and cause an increase in production. In foreign affairs listening would decrease the misunderstanding that so often can develop into animosities that can one day escalate to full blown wars.
In his essay “How We Listen,” Aaron Copland classifies and divides the listening process into three parts: “the sensuous place, the expressive plane, and the sheerly musical plane” (1074). I believe by this mechanical separation, Copland succeeds in discussing difficult topic, so natural that most people tend to by pass it. He uses analogy and sometimes stresses on certain situation where these planes are abused or become a cause of a problem. The main purpose for Copland to separate the listening process is for the reader to learn and study how they listen. Copland’s success in the clarification mainly because of two methods: (1) Categorizing the listening process in different parts and use an analogy to unite it to bring back the general idea of the listening process and (2) by answering and addressing to problems so the readers will understand and have a different view of the text.
The Listening Project was a social experiment where a group of people traveled the world and asked people what they thought about America and simply listened to their responses. This experiment provided very strong responses both positive and negative from different groups of people while others had a very vague ideas or thoughts about America. By just listening to these people respond they were able to get a better understanding how people all over the world feel about America. This film helps answer two very important questions, why is it important to listen to what others think and what does it mean to be a world citizen. Also it highlights key concepts of communication, skepticism, empathetic listening and vividness.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: The Seven Habits and Their Contribution to Listening
Listening Skills required one to listen to the issues that are currently happening weather they are for getting
Interpersonal listening: is the power to interpret things and to make healthy communication. A person that listens properly can transfer the accurate message to the specified person or to any receiver. If we listen properly we can effectively accomplish our assigned activities. Listening can prevent unnecessary mistakes. That is why people say, before you talk, think twice. If we listen to our family we can avoid some of the problems easily. If we listen to our friends, we canform good relationships. If we can listen to our groups, teams, and communities, we will be good leaders. When someone listens carefully until the speaker finishes, it helps the listener to get the whole message in order to answer any needed questions.There should be no worries of what to say after the speaker finished his /her speech. Sometimes being quiet is preferable. A good listener will make a good judgment.Listening skills also interoperates with verbal and non verbal communications which helps to receive messages sent by other people.
A vital aspect of interpersonal communication is the style in which one listens. While every individual possesses their own preferred method of listening in communication, it can be enlightening to analyze our own strengths and weaknesses so as to maximize effectual communication. Within the confines of four main listening style categories, I have chosen those which best describe my own personal listening style.
...ividuals that truly listen and acknowledge those ideas and message. In today’s workforce perfecting the skill of effective listening is an ability and technique that can lead to growth and success if properly applied. Finally, as Nichols’ accurately accounted “listening is hard work” (1961) and I believe that it is a skill that must be proactively developed and honed over time requiring concerted and focused effort (Nichols, p. 124).
Julian Treasure's speech was basically on Conscious Listening and Sounds. It's true how he says we don't listen as much anymore, so we are losing our listening skill. He mentions how when we communicate, we listen 60% of the time, but only really listen to 20% of the time. I agree that listening should be a skill now taught in school. Maybe then there would be better communication between everyone.
Listening is an aspect of communication that vital the building of understanding and of a relationship between individuals. Listening can be an active
In applying the skills to a case scenario, I found it difficult to focus and use my active listening skills. I do know that in an ideal situation, I will more than likely be one on one with my client and will generally conduct the interview in a quieter atmosphere, allowing me to focus better on what the client discloses. However, with continuous practice I believe I will be able to overcome becoming distracted by background noises.
Verbal and written communication skills are important competencies in the workplace, as much as 33 percent of the day is spent listening (Walker, R., 2015). Although a significant amount of our time is spent listening, this is a misunderstood skill often overlooked by professionals. “The ability to listen effectively can have a big impact on our ability to communicate well with others. Effective listening can help us build relationships, be more productive, and determine whether others are being deceptive” (Walker, R., 2015). To be an effective manager, teacher, collaborator, or leader one must be an effective listener. Effective listening is processing the information given to you by a speaker, showing that you are listening and attentive.
The importance of being a good listener has brought me to realize the consciousness of how to be more considerate of my friends and family when they are trying to communicate with me and I am in turn trying to communicate with them. Communication has taught me to remove myself from the picture sometime and see in the eyes of people around. I find that when I am more attentive to the needs of those who are trying to connect with me, life is much easier.
Let’s explore why listening is so critical. “Adam listened to Eve. In that first spoken word message and all since, no communication occurred until there was a listener. It follows, then, that there has become a much-heightened need to listen. We must understand the fundamental relationship involved, we cannot escape it” (Mills 1). The characteristics of good listening skills can be best understood by using the acronym MASTER. The “m” refers to mental. Mental is the ability to slow down and strategically control our ability to listen. “A” refers to active. Being active utilizes constructive listening responses and constant practice can keep this sharp. The “s” refers to sustaining attention. Experienced concentration is crucial for sustaining attention. “T” refers to target. There are four types of potential listening targets; responsive listening, implicative listening, critical listening and nondirective listening. Responsive listening is the agreement between listener and speaker. Implicative listening involves carefully understanding what is implied by hearing what is said. Critical listening is the process of coming to the point of a subject by clearing away all the non-important information. Nondirective listening is fully hearing the speaker out. The “e” refers to eliminating t...
Listening is one of the most powerful tools of communication and is a process that is used to receive, convey a meaning, and respond to both verbal and nonverbal messages. It is what we choose to do and it requires more work than speaking. Oftentimes, people simply misunderstand the difference between listening and hearing. Hearing is a passive process that takes in sounds and noises and listening is what you choose to do. This selective process includes 5 phases that can be acquired for us to become effective listeners in the future. The 5 phases are attending, understanding, remembering, critically evaluating (listening), and responding. Once the 5 different areas are understood, we will become aware of what needs to change and how we can change them. This will also allow us to improve our listening skills in the workplace, school, at home, etc.
All people contain a thing within them known as skill. Skill the ability to do something well; expertise. Many people claim that that are skilled in a certain activities. I may take time for people to learn, develop a skill, but some people are naturally skilled at certain things. Whether it is sports, cooking, math, reading, etc. People may use the skills they have or learn to decide what they will do in the future. Skill can be the deciding factor in whether you will be very successful or unsuccessful in certain activities in your life.