LEARNING TO LISTEN

Being as communication is a two way street, too many people are only concerned about the cutout and not the input. According to researchers at the University of Minnesota, the average person spends of his communication time listening. Good listening is an active, complex process. The following is a checklist developed by Dr. Richard Cupka of Perdue University to help you evaluate your own listening habits.

Do you give the other party a chance to talk?
Do von interrupt while someone is making a point?
Do you look at the speaker while he/she is speaking?
Do von impart the feeling that your time is being wasted?
Are you constantly fiddling with a pencil or paper?
Do you smile at the person talking to you?
Do you ever get the speaker off the track or off the subject?
Are you open to new suggestions, or do you stifle them immediately?
Do you anticipate what the other person will say next? Do you jump ahead, anticipating what the next point will be?
Do you put the other person on the defensive when you are asked a question?
Do von ask questions that indicate that you have not been listening?
Do von try to out-stare the sneaker?
Do von overdo you show of attention by nodding too much or saying yes to everything?
Do you insert humorous remarks when the other person is being serious?
Do you frequently sneak looks at your watch or clock listening?

This is a tough checklist. Anyone who is honest will probably discover several areas for improvement. Becoming an active and effective listener provides two important benefits. First of all, you may gain information from new sources that you previously have
missed through your poor listening. Secondly, even if you don’t ultimately agree with the other person, at least he or she will
feel that you are fair and open-minded.

Developing good listening habits is one way to become a better communicator. Active listening improves your personal and professional life. The sooner you start listening effectively, the better!

* * * * * * * * * *