Amy B. Rogers - Learning to Listen

W hen most people picture an effective communicator, they picture a great speaker. However, talking is only one part of communication. Another part-one thats just as important-is listening.

Communicating means exchanging thoughts, ideas, and feelings. This happens when someone shares information, often by speaking, and someone takes that information in, often by listening. Being a good communicator means putting just as much effort into listening as you do into speaking.

Most people think listening is easy. They think all it takes to be a good listener is to be quiet while someone else is talking. However, listening is a skill that takes work and practice to master. A good listener actively takes in what another person is saying instead of putting the focus on themselves. This might sound simple, but there are plenty of things that can get in the way of practicing good listening skills.

Sometimes, when someone else is speaking, we might be reminded of a similar experience weve had, or we might think we have good advice to give them. This can cause us to interrupt to share our thoughts in an effort to be helpful. However, its usually more helpful to simply listen without interruption. People often just want someone they can talk to as they figure things out for themselves.

Everyone has moments when theyre not the best listener. It doesnt make you a bad person or a bad friend. It just means you have something to work on!

Even if we wait our turn to talk, our thoughts can sometimes get in the way of practicing good listening skills. Were often planning what were going to say next When someone else is speaking. This means were not really listening to what theyre saying. We often do this without realizing it, and its a common issue most people encounter from time to time. Were not trying to ignore the person whos speaking, but we still arent actively listening to them.

How can we move past these common roadblocks to being a good listener? Learning to listen takes time and effort, but its worth it. Most people want to be known as good listeners. Its an important part of being a good friend, student, coworker, and family member. Everyone needs people to listen to them sometimeswhether its about stress at school or work, problems with family or friends, worries about the future, or good news they want to share. Listening is one of the ways we show people they matter to us, and thats why learning to listen is so important.

L istening is a valuable life skill. We often want someone to listen to us when we have something to sharefrom a good grade on a test to scary news about a loved ones health. Having someone to talk tosomeone we know is truly listening to uscan make us feel respected and valued. However, when it seems like no one is listening, we can feel lonely, annoyed, or sad.

Listening is an important part of mental health. It can be hard to talk about our thoughts and feelings, and it can be especially hard to open up about mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. However, being able to trust that someone is listening can make it easier to ask for help when were having a hard time.

Being a good listener doesnt just help the person whos doing the talking. It can help the listener too. Good listeners build stronger friendships, become better leaders, and learn new things about the world and the people around them. Although it can be hard to stop talking, turn off our own inner monologue, and focus on the person speaking, practicing good listening skills is very rewarding for many reasons.

At its most basic level, listening allows us to learn about the people were communicating with. When we dont listen, we miss important information. This can have a negative impact on many areas of our lives. A daughter who doesnt hear her mother tell her what time to be home on a Friday night may end up getting grounded if she stays out later than the time her mother told her to be back. Students likely wont pass a test if they fail to listen to their teacher during class.

Listening is an important part of leadership, especially at work.

Listening skills are a crucial part of the working world. An employee who doesnt listen to their boss may not receive the raise or promotion they were hoping for. Worse yet, they might lose their job altogether. Employees who listen carefully understand the results expected of them. Effective on-the-job listening helps build positive relationships that benefit coworkers, managers, clients, and customers. It also allows workers to solve problems and create a productive, respectful, and enjoyable working environment.

The things youre able to learn just by listening can help you achieve success in many different areas of life. Listening is an important part of being a student, its essential for every career, and it allows you to build strong relationships with others.

Has anyone ever rolled their eyes or walked away when you were trying to say something? How did it make you feel? Being interrupted, being ignored, or having the feelings were trying to share be dismissed can be upsetting. On the other hand, patiently listening to another person is perceived as a sign of respect, which helps forge lasting relationships.