Everyone's heard the classic phrase "in one ear and out the other." It's often when you've been caught daydreaming and staring into space that you are scolded with this. Most people will manage to usually hear what someone is saying, but are they actually listening? There is a significant difference between hearing and intently listening to what a person has to say. Often, people attribute little meaning to listening and the imperative impact it can have on any relationship. If people are inattentive or lack interest, it is evident to the speaker and it could easily hinder their relationship. Therefore, that is why it is imperative to have good listening practices.

There is this hustle and bustle mentality attached to everyone's agenda. People are so focused on moving forward and being productive that they neglect to place the necessary effort into certain tasks. People assume that listening is merely taking in what the other has to say and offering feedback. However, if you're distracted or attempting to multitask, the quality of your feedback could be lacking. If you aren't truly comprehending and dissecting what someone is telling you, there is often miscommunication about the message's content. Similarly, if your response doesn't adequately align with the topic of conversation, it is obvious that listening isn't your strong suit.

Listening isn't merely about being silent, it's about giving complete attention to the speaker and making an active effort to truly understand what they are saying. However, listening is a process and it doesn't necessarily end there. Listening is being able to offer a thoughtful response that clearly shows one's mindfulness throughout the conversation. This idea of mindfulness is crucial to the listening process. Mindfulness focuses on one specific task at a time rather than attempting to tackle multiple. People will mistake listening as an easy task and neglect its importance.

Being a productive listener is simple with practice. Little changes such as making eye contact, showing nonverbals of attentiveness, and offering a thorough response indicate a good listener. Once being a good listener becomes automatic, people will be likely to feel more comfortable confiding in you. In addition, your relationships will flourish as you've clearly made an effort to improve the quality of your communication. People underestimate the power of communication and its ability to completely influence an individual. Listening is a critical element of communication and practicing your listening will prove to be beneficial. Next time, don't let your friends ranting go in one ear are out the other.