Show Be A Better Listener Listening is your most frequent activity you probably probably probably pro pro- bably spend more time as a list listener ner than you do as a writer speaker or reader There is no communication unless the listener is a good one only through listening call can you acquire an understanding of what the other person wants how how- he feels he-feels feels toward his job his company and his fellow workers Understanding plays such as a vital part in effective leadership leadership leadership leader leader- ship that a poor listener usually is an inefficient counselor A poor listener often is is one simply because he does not understand the basic rules governing the process of listening For example 1 Listening is not a J passive function Actually it is difficult mentally and physically it requires requires requires re re- re- re quires mental activity patience and effort 2 Listening is not automatic but voluntary and willful We JYe hear only what we want to hear heal 3 Listening cannot be order order- ed Indeed efforts to insure listening listening listening lis lis- lis- lis for example using a compelling tone of voice may serve only to stimulate resistance tance 4 Speaking is not more important important important im im- im- im than listening Actually communication is a way two-way street and speaking is only half the process The speaker is not 1 solely es pg f i l to x get a message across 5 Listening skill probably does not develop naturally it seems to require training just justas as speaking skill does Good listening thus requires p proper oper attitude and proper behavior toward the speaker Only if we w want nt to do so can we understand what he wants to tell us That means we must listen even if we dont don't like the speaker or the subject Our c cannot hnot be neg negative tive if we are are to listen effectively To be a good listener then we must 1 the speaker with witha a friendly attitude 2 Think about what is being said 3 Try to figure out what is being being being be be- ing said and why it is being said 4 Give the speaker full and direct attention by putting everything everything everything ever ever- else out of mind ignoring ing distractions looking directly at atthe atthe atthe the speaker 5 Listen regardless of the the the- speakers speaker's manner or choice of words 6 Listen regardless of whether we already know what is going to be said 7 Let the speaker finish |