Did you know there are some challenges we face when it comes to listening? These challenges are hard wired into our brains.

The difference between hearing and listening. provides an overview of what is involved in listening.

These challenges can be overcome if you know what to work on. The following will cover selective listening, questions to discern how well you listen. At the end will be the average time we spend listening, talking, writing and reading in the work place.

Listening Skills Activity How you can learn to master listening skills.

The Ultimate Listening Skills Activity This is truly an amazing way to learn just how good or bad your listening is and what you need to improve it.

Assertive Listening The first step in assertive communication.

This is an essential part of public speaking and an important aspect of speechmastery. Listening to what an audience will want to hear will enhance your public speaking skill.

For one thing, we will tend to hear what we want to hear. Conversely, we will tend to tune out that which conflicts with our life experience, beliefs, perception, and ideas.

This is the reason your mate heard you say something you never said. This is the how parents can tune out the endless requests of a child. More importantly, this is how a mother can discern the various noises coming from their babies.

This kind of listening is called selective listening.

How Good Is Your Listening Skill?

Next time you have to listen to someone ask yourself these questions.

When you are listening, do you....

Think of other things or are you thinking about what is being said?

Do you think of how you will reply to what is being said?

Do you interrupt with your own additions to what is being said before the other person is finished listening?

When listening, are you listening for ideas or are you just listening for information?

Do you try to appear as though you are paying attention when your not?

Do you find your easily distracted by sounds and things happening around you?

Do you look at your watch (not intending to use it as a que that it is time to go)?

Do you find that you selectively listen?

The Listening Resource

Improve Your Listening Skill

Give your full attention to the person. As they speak, look at their body language as part of the way they are speaking to you. Look at facial expressions and gestures.

Listen for ideas and not just facts or information. Listen for feelings and attitudes about the information being conveyed.

You will notice that a lot of people do not listen to them selves or what they are saying. More importantly, you will find you may do the same thing.

Let the speaker finish speaking before you speak. Even if your listening, interruption could be interpreted as not listening. Also, let the speaker finish speaking before you start to think about what you are going to say next. You can not be listening if your thinking of how you will reply.

Even more importantly, before you reply, finish listening. Once the person stops talking take time to consider what was said. To give you the time to do this, use active listening.

Speechmastery.com: Listening for Public Speakers

Lets Connect