Listening is described
in numerous studies as the most prominent kind of communication. It has been
identified as one of the most frequent problems in marriage, one of the most
important in family and social settings, and one of the most important on-the-job
communication skills. Often people think that because they can hear, listening
is a natural ability. It is not. Listening effectively requires considerable
skill and practice and is a learned skill. Listening skills have been described
as either 'listening with our hearts' or 'hearing between the words.' Listening
is a process that consists of five elements: hearing, attending, understanding,
responding, and remembering. Hearing is the physiological dimension of
listening that occurs when sound waves strike the ear at a certain frequency
and loudness and is influenced by background noise. Attending is the process of
filtering out some messages and focusing on others. Understanding occurs when
we make sense of a message. Responding consists of giving observable feedback
to the speaker such as eye contact and appropriate facial expressions.
Remembering is the ability to recall information. Listening isn't just a
passive activity; we are active participants in a communication transaction. By Gwen Nyhus Stewart
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