ACTIVE LISTENING: THE NEED OF THE HOUR ( Reading Time: 2 minutes)

 

As a student, it was not until now that I could fathom the real meaning and importance of listening.  As a child I clearly recall associating listening to obeying wherein I was expected to listen to what elders said and dutifully follow it. But the phrase that strikes a chord to what I am about to express my views about is :

“We have two ears and one mouth, so that we can listen twice as much.”

What this means is that listening is so important that our physicality is designed to listen more and speak less. Listening is the first communication skill we master since birth  much before speaking, reading and writing .  The importance and need for active listening is also reflected in the fact that out of the 70%  that we communicate, an average of 45% is spent listening compared to 30% speaking, 16% reading and 9% writing. But what surprises me more is the extent to which these skills are being taught to us. You  will  all agree with me when I say there is a lot more focus on teaching us how to speak, read and write, then why is listening ignored? Why is there an array and plethora of avenues to focus on content of speaking, reading and writing?  We have tutorials, blogs and expert gurus focusing on using these mediums only, leaving just a handful aimed at listening to ourselves, to others and by doing so becoming empathetic humans.

We need to realize that we have an advantage in communication by being more of a listener than a speaker, for it is a proven fact that we can speak at a rate of 120 to 180 words per minute words but listen to 400 words per minute.  

During this time of pandemic and distress, there is a surge in the number of people turning to counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists. Why the sudden need to be listened to?.. Why do we really wish that someone just lends a ear, listens to us and seeking advice or suggestions for a course of action comes secondary? Do we as humans hear more..listen less and do we all listen..to reply but not to understand.

This is where active listening skills plays a major role-  a few minutes of empathetic and active listening offered to those who need it will surely go a long way. It can bring clarity to a confused mind, give solace to the lonely, positively engage an anxious soul and might even save a life.

So beginning now,let’s play our roles of being good active listeners.. Firstly by listening to our heart, our inner soul and then by wholeheartedly listening to others without any prejudice, judgement, assumptions and mental blocks.

To conclude keep in mind following points to be an active listener:

- Be open- minded

- Be mentally prepared to listen.

- Evaluate the speech not the speaker

- Be unbiased to the speaker by depersonalizing your feelings

- Encourage silence and resist the temptation to interrupt

-Use verbal and non verbal acknowledgement

REMEMBER.. NO BODY IS A PERFECT LISTENER .. BUT ONE OF THE MOST SINCERE FORMS OF RESPECT IS ACTUALLY LISTENING  TO WHAT  OTHERS  SAY.

 

#activelistening

#theneedofthehour

#lendaear

#beempathetic