Active Listening, Anyone?

Active Listening, Anyone?

What's the most simple obvious GIVEN in life ?It is the fact that when we speak, maybe 99% do LISTEN to us.  BUT Active Listening, Anyone?  For alignment, allow me to quote from Mr Google which defines ACTIVE LISTENING as a way of LISTENING and RESPONDING to another person that improves mutual understanding.  So, back to my frank question:  How often do we do ACTIVE LISTENING?  Probably, a plurality do.  You'll be surprised with the numbers below📗📙📘

Surveys show that between 70-80% of the day we're engaged in some form of communication, of which, 55% is devoted to LISTENING.  But WHAT is quite alarming is that on average, the average LISTENER only remembers a measly 25% of a talk OR conversation😑😑😑

Thing is, oftentimes, we DON'T retain WHAT we hear.  In fact, the tests from Harvard Business Review attests that the average LISTENER does remember 25% [ONLY] of a talk or lecture.  ACTIVE LISTENING requires much deeper attention and empathy, which ideally leads to greater understanding.  It is the practice of paying FULL ATTENTION to what someone is saying in order to demonstrate unbiased reflection😀😀😀

This is NOT just about the benefits to our career.  Empathy, the very basis of ACTIVE LISTENING, is crucial in building meaningful relationships.  ACTIVE LISTENING can even help you to manage your emotions, retain data or information much better and where there are gaps, conflicts or disconnects, ACTIVE LISTENING is very key in helping resolve such conflicts📌📌📌

The rising demand for social and emotional skills [and that includes ACTIVE LISTENING] is projected to grow by more than 20% between 2016 and 2030 and that projection cuts across industries.  BTW, won't you get FRUSTRATED [at the very least] if you're talking intently but obviously, the person you're talking to, simply blurts back with his spiel?  Time for ACTIVE LISTENING, anyone please❗❗❗

Are Your EARS CLOSEST to the GROUND?

Are Your EARS CLOSEST to the GROUND?

Is it worth our time today to discuss our ability to listen?  I plead, YES PLEASE.  Despite the fact that we are all gifted with that LISTENING ability, a plurality [if not a majority] of us are remiss [if not guilty] of not using up to the hilt our ability to LISTEN.  Unless your EARS are CLOSEST to the GROUND, there is always a likelihood that you may miss ADVISORIES, ALERTS, PERILS, RISKS, THREATS, WARNINGS and worse, you may miss expressions of LOVE & WARMTH in your relationships.  And the mother of all the worst things you'll miss will be tons and tons of OPPORTUNITIES in life.  Note that opportunities MISSED are opportunities LOST.  That is not just a fact but that should be part of our human credo.

Throw in today's technology and the zillions of gadgets hovering all over you, you end up in a frenzied pandemonium. Seemingly LOST, BEFUDDLED and just out of control of what's going on in your life.  How often have we seen family members so hostaged with gadgets and yet when he gets SCREAMED at for NOT listening, he'll scream back YES I'M LISTENING ?!@#$

This is our dilemma today.  How many of us really endeavor to ACTIVELY LISTEN?  Many would even be so damn stubborn NOT to reduce the volume of their gadgets and yet they have the temerity to scream back "YES I'M LISTENING" ?!@#$  It is a pity we seem to have lost appreciating the gap between ACTIVE vs PASSIVE listening.

So, in the simplest terms, what exactly does ACTIVE LISTENING mean?  In layman's terms, it is as simple as EXTENDING YOUR ANTENNA so that you can get alerted of an incoming train or a looming opportunity.  Hey, i'll pre-empt you if you argue that opportunities are ADVERTISED.  Yes you are right and wrong because by the time the opportunities get ADVERTISED, those opportunities have dissipated in thin air, whew.

And how popular are drones these days?  They are that popular such that even people with less education know it like the palm of their hands because drones may lead them to either an ALERT or an OPPORTUNITY.  So now, do I win you over to keep your EARS CLOSEST to the GROUND❓❓❓