Importance of Listening

LISTENING EFFECTIVELY is hearing and understanding what a speaker is saying and how it applies to you and then remembering it for future use and evaluation.

Some interesting statistics . . .
**85% of what we know that we have learned by listening
**75% of the time we are distracted, preoccupied or forgetful.
**50% only do we usually recall immediately after we listen to someone talk.
**We listen at 125-250 words per minute, but think at 1000-3000 words
per minute.
**More than 35 business studies indicate that listening is a top skill needed for success in business.

Ways to Listen

**Concentrate. Become involved in what is being said. Be an avid listener. Constantly analyze what is being said. Ask “what’s in this for me”.
**Use positive body language
-Keep alert and have eye-contact with the speaker. This will help you listen more effectively. Sit up straight, keep hands away from your face. (Research shows this will make the speaker more interesting!)
-Read the speaker’s body language. 65 to 90 percent of every conversation is conveyed through body language.
**(Research shows this will make the speaker more interesting!)
**Listen with the mind, not the emotions. Good listeners jot down something they disagree with to ask the speaker later, and then go on listening.
**Listen for central ideas not just facts. Don’t judge until comprehension is complete. See how the facts and examples support the speaker's ideas and arguments. Good listeners know that facts are important, because they support ideas.
**Judge the content - skip over the errors. Cut through (or screen out) distractions.
-background noise
-unusual accents, dialects, and language mistakes
-speaker disorganization, emotion, or habits
-superfluous material
-your own inner voice
**Understand and use the differential between the speed of speaking and the speed of thinking
-Try to anticipate the next point of the presentation.
-Evaluate what the speaker is using for supporting evidence.
-Summarize the lecture to yourself.
-Ask questions.
**Have several note-taking systems and write down only the important information. Remember that not all information is important.