With all of the excitement of new technology, events, and social networking in today’s world, it is so much easier and faster for us to get our opinion out there. All one has to do is take 30 seconds and post a status on Facebook, tweet something on Twitter, or reblog something on Tumblr to let other people know what they have to say, what they are thinking, or how they are feeling.
With that newfound freedom provided from the Internet and social networking, it is easy to get caught up in ourselves and our interests. Now we often times find ourselves starting to care less about what other people have to say because we are too focused with ourselves. It’s not always in a selfish manner, but rather a force of habit that one develops from constantly being able to express their ideas and opinions without any interruptions or limitations. It may not always be a bad thing, but it’s certainly something to be aware of.
This carries into our social life, professional life, and everyday conversations.You know when in the middle of a conversation a little light bulb goes off, and you get so excited to say something? You're so ready to say the next thing that you’re not really listening to what the person that's talking to you has to say. Again, it's not always on purpose. It’s just common nature to want to keep the conversation going and to add on to what the other person is saying. Maybe we just get a little too excited about it. Good listening applies mostly to our social life but it also applies to our professional life. You certainly want to be a good listener when talking to your boss, coworkers, and customers. If not, you could be missing something super important—which could affect you negatively in the future.
A good listener focuses on what they are hearing.They take into careful consideration what they are being told, and consider it before they make their next statement. Generally, a person should be able to remember most of a conversation after having it. It's easy to doze off in a conversation. But if we're constantly zoning off, and we're constantly talking or thinking about what we want to say next, then we're not really listening. If we're not listening, then what are we really getting from conversing anymore? We can't become a generation that just loves to hear ourselves, and ourselves only, talk.
I think a lot of times, people forget that they actually need to retain information to remember it. Sitting there nodding your head thinking about the next thing you will say or the next question you ask will not help you remember or truly understand what they are saying. Maybe we get the concept of hearing confused with the concept of listening. There’s a fine difference between the two.
Hear it, retain it, think about it, and then give your input.If we spend our whole life waiting for their next opportunity to speak, we may not ever get a chance to learn and understand anything but our own opinion and our own voice.
It is important to listen. It is important to learn. It is important to make others feel understood. It is important to make sure others know they are important too.
It is just as important to hear as it is to be heard.
