Do You Hear That?

I read a report in the Toronto Star stated that 70% of workplace errors happen because of communication breakdown and that many of them directly relate to a lack of listening skills.

The challenge is most people filter out sounds, noises and people talking as much as they filter out most of the things their eyes see.

On one level, this is important. You would go crazy if you processed everything that you heard and you would never be able to have a conversation with a person in a crowded room. However, we get in this habit so much of the time that we literately filter out things that are important to us.

Another challenge is that we can hear 5 to 10 times faster than we can talk, so our brains start to think of other things rather than focusing on understanding what is being said. In addition, there are many types of listeners and most people don't even realize which they are.

I have heard about many team projects that had disastrous results where the people involved "heard" something different and had a different view of the outcome.

I have a photo "of what someone heard", of a plane in a hanger and what subsequently surrounds the plane. When the supervisor was leaving he said, "Don, turn off the suds machine" Don thought he heard, don't turn off the suds machine, and thought ok? The next morning the hanger was filled with suds and the only parts left showing was the tail of the airplane.

It shows how, what we heard is our interpretation of what we think they said, after it has gone through our brain filtering system. I have seen many people hold grudges days, over what they believed was said, and not what the person actually said.

This saying sums it up nicely.

I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." ?Unknown

The benefits that come from improving your listening skills can mean the difference between moving ahead in your career, knowledge and skills or falling behind and wondering why.

Some of the benefits are:

Resolves Conflict - You are able to understand the other person better which leads to resolutions.
Increases performance ? When everyone is working on the same goal, you can perform like a well-oiled machine and everyone wins in the end.
Increases your knowledge - Chances are you will learn important information and ideas that will help you.

There are many ways to improve your listening.

Some of them are:

Make sure you are not talking
Remove distractions i.e. TV, radio, other people
Check your emotions
Watch for non-verbal clues

There are people who have said that they know they interrupt a lot, but are afraid of forgetting what they want to say. However, it is hard to reply to something when you haven't been listening to them in the first place. You are guessing at what they mean.

There are several things you can do to assist yourself, such as a note pad to jot down a word or two to help trigger your memory.

Sadly though, many people only listen to reply and not to understand. These people often don't realize the many benefits they are leaving behind.

"It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

All the Best!
Maria Boomhower
The Master Communicator
To sign up for a free report on
"The 7 Secrets to Communication Mastery"
go to: http://www.falconfreedom.com
Master Communicator Blog

P.S. If you like what you're reading in this ezine,
you'll love the book, "Overcoming Barriers to Communication"
Answer the questions;
Why doesn't anyone understand me?
Why do I have such a hard time getting my message across?
go to:Overcoming Barriers to Communication

---

Hiring Your First Business Personal Assistant: Some Guidelines for Successful Hiring

Hiring the first personal business assistant is an exciting time... Read More

Group Decision Making : Are the Decisions Really Made by the Group?

GROUP DECISION-MAKING: Many managers feel they are well-versed in areas... Read More

Inventory Management 101

Inventory management may seem complicated to some, but if one... Read More

Let the Professionals Help You Out - Outsource

As your website grows in terms of attracting more footfalls,... Read More

Look Good on Voice Mail

Your use of voice mail tells others a lot about... Read More

10 Ways To Maintain Profits In A Slow Economy

1. Sell more back end products to your existing customer... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Directors, Consultants and Managers

Creativity and Innovation is essential for competitive advantage, yet the... Read More

Five Steps to Successful Business Succession

The great majority of family businesses in North America are... Read More

Influencing the Organisation

There is a saying about management that suggests some managers... Read More

How to Dodge Distribution Difficulties

It happened again. I ran into an old friend while... Read More

Setting Clearer Performance Expectations

The annual performance review.Stating this phrase guarantees some reaction for... Read More

Developing Your Mission

"The best Leader is one who knows how to pick... Read More

Why People Resist Us

There's a one-word reason most ideas never see the light... Read More

Forecasting Support Costs

Did you know that maintenance accounts for 50% to 80%... Read More

Hows Your Company RQ (Reputation Quotient)?

In light of recent corporate scandals, from Enron and Global... Read More

Change Management: Avoid Havoc In Very Uncertain Times

Escalating gas prices...tensions and turmoil in the Middle East...a struggling... Read More

The New Economy

This technological revolution has organization, efficiency and productivity requirements well... Read More

Building Trust in Your Business Relationships - 10 Steps

There are some simple things you can do with your... Read More

Lead to Succeed: The Seven Essential Steps to Work Leader Success

In my book "You're In Charge?What Now?" I use a... Read More

Lets Flourish and Prosper!

Some say that in business as in sex: if it... Read More

So, You Want to be in Management? Five Essential Factors that Will Determine Your Chances

The following information is based upon over 500 interviews with... Read More

6 Steps To Effective Management During Change

Take the pain out of gain and decrease the upheaval... Read More

3 Keys to Being a Fearless Executive

In my work with business executives, I have come to... Read More

Loyalty, Motivation And Work-Life Balance

Managers who aren't loyal to their people can't expect loyalty... Read More

Cultural Awareness - an HR Perspective

The use of cultural awareness training has increased rapidly in... Read More

Innovation Management ? Rigorous data analysis

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

CRM ...The Emperors New Clothes

The story of the emperor's new clothes is a fairy... Read More

If You Build It, Investors Will Come

When you begin to write your business plan or a... Read More

Competencies for HR Professionals in Knowledge-based Industry with Reference to IT, ITES-BPOs

Introduction"High performing HR function affects bottom line nearly 10%"- A... Read More

The Few & the Many: Free Trade, Outsourcing, & Communication

Have you noticed that some sound ideas get bad publicity?... Read More

Workplace Violence - People are Dying Going to Work

Workplace violence has become a tragic reality today. From minor... Read More

The 6 Steps to Six Sigma

Step 1Get the proper level of Six Sigma expertise at... Read More

Stop Going to Meetings - 10 Questions to Ask Before Attending a Meeting - Get More Productive

We get invited to attend so many "meetings" but do... Read More