What Are The Importance Of Listening Essay

INTRODUCTION LISTENING plays an important role for an effective communication. The ability to listen well is quite as important as the ability to speak well. In communication, however good a transmitter is, it becomes effective only in partnership with a good listener. It is obvious that unless someone listens, any effort to communicate will be lost. After all, communication involves the negotiation of mutual meanings, which requires two parties.

Listening requires hard work as it involves concentration. It takes energy to concentrate on listening to what is being said, to concentrate on understanding what has been heard, and to make an objective evaluation of what has been understood. Lack of listening skill is primarily responsible for many

This first rule is very obvious, but frequently forgotten. If you don’t look at person while they are speaking, you give them the impression that you don’t care what they say. In essence, it appears as though you don’t even care about them.

• Don’t interrupt.

Let the person speak uninterrupted. The art of listening requires halting of ideas and thoughts come to mind and let the other person say everything they want to say. Sometimes we need someone to talk to, not someone who gives their own ideas and opinions. The goal is to shine the spotlight on them, not on you.

• Practice “Active listening”

The art of listening is not about staying quiet 100% of the time, it’s about asking questions. These questions are for clarifications or for further explanation so that you can fully understand what the speaker is telling you. For example: questions like these are brilliant: “Are you saying that _______”, “What I heard you say was ______”, “Did you mean that _______”.

• Show you understand

Another great way to show that you understand what the person is telling to “nod”. You can also make noises to show that you are in tune with what person is saying such as “yes”, “hmm”, “okay”, “yeah”. It gives confident to other person that you are interested in

Make your goal to be open-minded. After all who wants to open up to a narrow minded person? Don’t make perceptions towards a person if someone is telling you something.

• Listen to non-verbal communication.

About 65-70% communication is non-verbal. That’s a lot! In order to know whether to encourage the speaker, to open yourself more, or to be more supportive in your approach, it’s essential to what person’s body is saying.

• Create suitable environment.

It can really be difficult to listen other person when TV is screaming, your phone is buzzing and there are thousands of car passing by. When you remove all these distractions and find a quiet place to sit down and listen, it’s much easier to listen with an open minded and whole hearted. Once you do this, this will show care and concern towards the person and what they want to say.

• Observe Other People.

If you’re really serious about mastering the art of listening, why not observe other people? One of the best ways to become a better listener is to observe the way people interact with each other, and all the irritating and rude things they do. Create an “annoying habit” checklist, and see if you do any. If you’re brave enough, you can even ask someone you trust about what they like and dislike about the way you interact with others in