Wednesday, 22 February 2012

IMPORTANCE OF GOOD LISTENING

Before we dive into the reasoning, what does it really mean to be a good listener? Being a good listener starts off with being able to define the difference between hearing and listening (See Post: Hearing vs. Listening). It’s simple really, good listening means to hear the words then come to a conclusion of its meanings and the message it is conveying. Sounds simple enough eh? Sadly, listening is one of those things that’s “Easier said, than done”. It is, after all, called an art for a reason.
So, why is good listening so important? We’ve heard it all before; “You’re not listening!”… And before we can make logical sense of what’s going on, we’re in the middle of some argument.
Reason #1: Good listening keeps one out of arguments.
Reason #2: It keeps you from looking unwise.
We’ve all been there, we’re conversing with someone and you give your two cents in… All of a sudden, the person you’re speaking with becomes confused, maybe even amused, or perhaps annoyed. Yes, you have just given a reply that is completely irrelevant to the conversation. Good listening does not permit for moments like this to occur.  Remember, to be able to appropriately respond, comprehension (attained through good listening) is indeed required.

Other reasons include:
Reason #3: Find underlying meanings in what others say.

Reason #4: Show support

Reason#5: Able to work better in a team- based environment

Remember, listen with intent- it is one of the keys to success!

No comments:

Post a Comment