Ten Common Listening Errors
- Calling the subject or speaker uninteresting or boring
- Criticizing the speaker's delivery
- Getting worked-up with disagreements with the speaker's message
- Listening only for facts
- Trying to outline the talk
- Faking attention
- Tolerating or creating distractions
- Evading or avoiding difficult material
- Letting emotion-laden words throw you off focus
- Letting your mind wander
1. Calling the subject or speaker uninteresting or boring
Calling the subject or speaker uninteresting or boring allows you to "distance" from the listening experience -- to lose focus -- and to daydream, chat, or sleep.The Efficient Listener says, "As long as I'm here, I'll focus on what's going on to gain as much as I can."
Return to the top of the page2. Criticizing the speaker's delivery
Criticizing the speaker's delivery allows you to distract yourself from the content of the message by focusing on the presentation.The Efficient Listener, while possibly noting that the speaker's delivery is sub par, nevertheless pays attention to the content and reserves judgment until the talk is over.
Return to the top of the page3. Getting worked-up with disagreements with the speaker's message
If you allow yourself to get caught up in challenging or contradicting the speaker (even silently in your mind), you no longer are listening.The Efficient Listener pays attention to gather all the information before thinking about challenging what is said.
Return to the top of the page4. Listening only for facts
If you listen only for facts, while focusing on getting one fact, you lose getting others.The Efficient Listener listens for main ideas and themes, and notes facts that illustrate and support the main ideas. By having a structure, more facts are remembered.
Return to the top of the page5. Trying to outline the talk
Trying to outline the talk will work if the speaker's remarks are themselves organized in a pattern. If not, the main ideas and themes can be lost while trying to find a pattern.The Efficient Listener notes main themes and ideas and organizes them later.
Return to the top of the page6. Faking attention
Faking attention is being present in body and not in mind.The Effective Listener accepts that attention will wander and learns to become aware of when attention is lost and to refocus the mind.
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If someone is creating a distraction, tell the person that the behavior is distracting. If you cannot tell the person, raise your hand and ask the speaker to ask for order. If you lose your focus and create distractions, either take a deep breath to center yourself or excuse yourself from the talk so as not to distract others.
Return to the top of the page8. Evading or avoiding difficult material
Evading or avoiding difficult material is a form of giving up. If you do not understand the material, rather than tune out, use your curiosity to try to learn something.
Return to the top of the page9. Letting emotion-laden words throw you off focus
Responding verbally of silently in your mind to emotionally-charged ideas can distract you from the content. If you have a reaction to what is said, note it in your mind or jot down a word or two about it and then refocus your attention.
Return to the top of the page10. Letting your mind wander
It's natural for your mind wander to fill the time between what you hear and what is said. People process what they hear in less time than it takes a speaker to talk. When you notice your mind wandering, re-focus your attention on the speaker, perhaps by concentrating on taking notes.
The Effective Listener learns to "be still" by quieting the mind in order to keep focused during interims.
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