by Lucy Parker

Created on: June 24, 2008

Listening and hearing are two very different words which entitle meanings far apart. To hear is to merely have the vibrations of noise penetrating the earlobes with words whereas listening requires wanting to hear what is being said.
Whether it be a work related moment involving communication or relationship needing some talking. It may be a parent-child relationship with problems to work though or two best friends in the middle of a dispute. No matter the situation, relationship, length of time known or how the pair became one, it is imperative that all parties know the proper way(s) of communicating with one another.

I can't recall the amount of times I have heard someone say I heard you yet what was asked of them never got completed. Usually it is a parent-child relationship that is thought of as soon as this scenario comes to mind. Let's focus on a work situation that occurs often.
Remember the time your boss asked that to see that the customer has been helped, paper to be filed, a phone be made and tiding up completed, however, by the end of the day it isn't a check off on your to do list. Then appears the opportunity to adopt pseudo listening, or pretending to listen. After all, a lecture is coming on about how immature, irresponsible and unreliable you are on the job.
Turning point for learning to communicate more properly is now upon the doorbell of ringing opportunities. Through listening instead of only hearing the words spoken will encourage and enhance the relationships among each other.
Thus listening entitles the active portion in which is necessary for the actions of getting what is being said. By being active it will help the next step of accomplishing what is discussed. Greatly achieved listening will surface once people recognize the ability and skills newly obtained. Amazment along side satisfaction occurs from the inside out when two people realize that one another are hearing and listening to what they have to say. For one this is an indicator that a person wants to hear what you have to say. It also says that they care about the conversation and just maybe they care about you. Two it shows respect for one another when listening occurs rather than hearing alone.
Most importantly if you really want your communications skills to improve active listening will be the art taken up as a new hobby. Of course this will enhance the relationships being jeopardized. Now I ask you are you still listening to my rambling? Or are you adapting pseudo listening?

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