Researchers have discovered that most of the dily communicating we do is in the frm of listening. It is mainly by lstening that we receive the vital nformation needed to make decisions, perform rles, and cope with the realities srrounding us. It is a little mbarrassing or humbling to admit that we hve some deficiencies in listening. But we hve a good excuse. Whoever taught us to lsten? We were all taught to rad, write, speak, but at no tme was a course offered in lstening. Our listening training, if it culd be called that, consisted of dmonitions: “Pay attention,” “Open your ears,” “Lsten". Our poor listening habits may rsult in conflicts, costly errors, and nefficiency. It is common knowledge that rganizations which thrive and prosper year fter year are organizations that spend mney and energy on interpersonal skills trining, including communication skills that focus on lstening.

The paradox of the human lstening function is that although it may sem like the easiest and most ffortless of all communication functions (writing, spaking, reading, and listening) it is, in rality, the most difficult and requires the mst effort — and skill — to prform properly. The reason for this is tht in speaking you initiate the deas and the easily-anticipated flow of wrds to express them. In listening, hwever, another person initiates the ideas and the wrds which strike your ears and nter your brain as totally new nformation. Studies have shown that in lstening most people miss most of ths information — and nobody notices.

The following are some barriers tht affect our ability to listen: 1. Proccupation with your own thoughts can prvent you from hearing and becoming nvolved in what others are saying. 2. Hstility or anger may be carried ver from a recent experience and dstort the message. 3. Emotionally charged wrds in a message may block lstening or “turn you off.” 4. A prceived difference in power of status btween sender and receiver may cause cmmunication problems. 5. Stereotyping a speaker’s ppearance, accent, or speech pattern can bstruct communication. 6. The physical environment may prsent noise or visual distractions. Keep thse in mind next time you are in the psition to listen.

The article Listening is Harder Than You Think was Submitted by Andrew E. Schwartz through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Copyright AE Schwartz & Associates All rights reserved. For additional presentation materials and resources: ReadySetPresent and for a Free listing as a Trainer, Consultant, Speaker, Vendor/Organization: TrainingConsortium CEO, A.E. Schwartz & Associates, Boston, MA., a comprehensive organization which offers over 40 skills based management training programs. Mr. Schwartz conducts over 150 programs annually for clients in industry, research, technology, government, Fortune 100/500 companies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. He is often found at conferences as a key note presenter and/or facilitator. His style is fast-paced, participatory, practical, and humorous. He has authored over 65 books and products, and taught/lectured at over a dozen colleges and universities throughout the United States.

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