Mastering A Skill

Mastering A Skill

At some point in the day, everyone participates in listening to another individual, music, television, or radio along with numerous other methods.   Even though people may hear what is being said or played the majority of people do not really listen, There is a difference between listening and really listening. Websters dictionary defines listening as :
1. to pay attention to sound
2. to hear something with thoughtful attention; give consideration {listen to a plea}
3. to be alert to catch an expected sound

Really listening to someone is commonly referred to as “active listening” .   Active listening is defined by Wikipedia as “a structured way of listening and responding to others.   It focuses attention on the speaker.   Suspending one's own frame of reference and suspending judgment are important in order to fully attend to the speaker”.  

Most people think they already have the skill of active listening down pact!   The majority of people believe they are great listeners and do not think they need to improve in this area.   Several   times people have become offended when they are told “You aren't listening to what I am saying” because they believe they are. Just because you are looking at someone and nodding your head from time to time does not mean you are actively listening to them.

There are   times when someone is speaking, we really do not focus on what they are actually talking about.   There have been many times when I have been listening to what the person was saying but then began to formulate my own opinions or answers in my mind causing me to miss out on some of their message.   Other times I have been distracted by the phone, a deadline getting close, almost time to go home or just really was not interested in what they had to say. I have even found myself in a conversation where my thoughts drifted off elsewhere and then discovered I had missed a part of the conversation all together!   When this occurs it sometimes creates serious...