The Art of Listening

What Is meant by listening vs hearing because there is a vast difference between listening and hearing. Let’s delve into how we understand what we hear and see how it can improve your communication.

Do you have first-class listening skills because listening is the most valuable tool you have? Most of us are not very good at it? Nevertheless, don’t take my word for it; read the whole article. Next, check all the links given below and listen to what other people say.

It helps if you appreciate what I am implying when I say listening vs hearing. Hearing doesn’t entail words, sounds, or feelings. It’s the physical ability to hear sounds, sense someone touching you, taste, sight, and hearing. Listening explained in this article is entirely different.

Even when you understand this, the distinction between hearing and listening can be confusing. This quote might make it more transparent:

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realise that what you heard is not what I meant.” – It isn’t clear who is the originator of this quote

Great quotes are abundant on listening skills, and I like these:

“To say that a person feels listened to means a lot more than just their ideas get heard. It’s a sign of respect. It makes people feel valued.”
– Deborah Tannen

“I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening.”
– Larry King, TV host

“You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.”
– M. Scott Peck

In this article, you will find plenty of information to help you improve your listening skills resume and interpret more accurately what you see or hear.

Listening vs Hearing – How Do We Hear?

What is the difference when we say listening vs hearing? We physically hear with our ears and eyes, and the heart is where we feel responses to any communication. Our head interprets what we see, hear and feel.

A problem exists for a lot of people because they are not in touch with their feelings, or they are confused by them. If you are in touch with your feelings, then there is often conflict and confusion between what your head thinks, and your heart feels.

Many factors can come into play, such as circumstances or environment, and it’s easy to believe our interpretation of what we heard or saw. Therefore, when we fail to validate our understanding of what we thought we heard, the result could be incorrect.

Listening is a Hot Topic

There are 3.5 thousand million results for listening on Google, and this statistic highlights the importance of the topic. Therefore, I have selected some articles and videos from the internet for you to read and watch because it will provide you with a much broader perspective.

Run through the results and repeat those you relate to as many times as it takes for them to sink in because if you do, your listening can’t fail to improve.

Listening vs Hearing – Be a Better Speaker with More Listening Skills

If your goal is to be a good speaker, then develop your listening skills. Too many speakers fail to connect with their audience, and yet listening is a significant part of how to communicate with an audience. Listening is imperative, and when this doesn’t happen, it ruins the whole presentation because there is no connection even when there is a topic worth hearing.

Everyday speakers can add or change content to their material, which will improve the effectiveness of their talks. They can do this through the art of listening alone, but if you fail to relate to your audience, it’s a waste of time.

The Role of The Head and Heart in Listening Skills

You listen with your head and your heart. Good listeners have a comfortable balance between both. When speakers can distinguish between what the head believes it saw or heard, and how they felt about it, they make wise choices. You’ll recognise speakers who are doing this because they sound relaxed and confident, which audiences love.

Links to Articles and Videos on Listening vs Hearing Skills

The following links are so valuable because they always teach me something, plus I often feel inspired and enthused afterwards. It’s worth taking your time working through them all because your listening skills will grow quite quickly with new ideas. Improvement happens when you connect with what you see or hear in the videos and articles. You learn new ideas that make a difference to how you listen. Improving your listening skills will make a difference to your speaking. Enjoy your journey and feel free to message or comment on any of the content.

Most of us don’t listen very well. Or if we do manage to, we’re often just waiting until the other person finishes so we can say what’s on OUR mind. And that’s not listening.

“Listening Skills”

Listening is so critical that many top employers provide listening skills training for their employees. It isn’t surprising when you consider that excellent listening skills can lead to better customer satisfaction and higher productivity with fewer mistakes. Increased sharing of information leads to more creative and innovative work.

“10 Steps to Effective Listening”

In today’s high-tech, high-speed, high-stress world, communication is more critical than ever, yet devote less time to listening to one another. Consequently, it helps build relationships, solve problems, ensure understanding, resolve conflicts, and improve accuracy.

At work, active listening means fewer errors and less wasted time. Listening builds friendships and careers. It saves money and marriages.

“How to Master the Art of Listening”

Listening skills can produce better results with deliberate effort and practice. Here you will find three tips to improve your listening skills and set you on the path to mastery.

“The Importance of Listening, and Ways to Improve Your Skills”

It’s easy to mistake listening as a simple, passive task, but it requires more than just the ability to absorb information from someone else. Listening is a process and an active one.

“To Communicate Well, Listen First” –

Before we speak, we need to listen. And when we do speak, we need to make sure that our audience is hearing us.

“Active Listening” –

A key to active listening is an open mind. Never underestimate the importance of non-verbal communication.

“What it Means to Be a Good Listener” –

Being a good listener is essential for the quality of your social life, and it allows you to expand your horizon.

“Better Listening = Better Leadership” –

Sixty per cent of our communication time is spent listening, and we’re not very good at it.

Videos For those who prefer watching and listening rather than reading

“10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation”

A great talk, informative and engaging. How to talk and how to listen.

“How to Listen”

First, listen to yourselves. Anybody who struggles to absorb information should listen to this video by someone who lost most of their hearing by the age of 12.

“5 Ways to listen better”

We are losing our ability to listen. Five ways to tune your ears for conscious listening. Yes, let’s get out there and teach our children the art of listening.

More Information

These are other articles that can add to the effectiveness of your communication and your understanding of self:

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