Active Listening Skills

Most people are not very good at listening. Researchers estimate that people generally comprehend only 25% of a typical verbal message. In the current information age, the active listener has an advantage over the lazy listener or non-listener. The pressure to attend to all sorts of stimuli (e.g., smartphones, tablets, multi-tasking) makes it difficult to focus on any one stimulus or interaction at a time. Money, time, and opportunities are lost every year because of poor listening skills. A poor listener is not prepared to take advantage of a situation, seize an opportunity, or be in a position to help others. We can improve our listening skills by knowledge, practice, and persistence.