At its root, listening is the act of hearing and attempting to comprehend the meaning of words spoken by another person. Listening is also a very important ingredient for building healthy relationships.

Listening means paying attention not only to the story, but how it is told, the use of language and voice, and how the other person uses his or her body. In other words, it means being aware of both verbal and non-verbal messages.

Listening is key to effective communication. Without the ability to listen effectively, messages are easily misunderstood. As a result, communication breaks down and the sender of the message can easily become frustrated or irritated.

Just think of a recent time when you felt like no one was listening. How did that make you feel?

Whether it’s with our family, friends or colleagues, improving listening skills could strengthen our relationships.

 

Watch this animation by The School Of Life on being a good listener and let us know your thoughts.