Listening is the highest form of communication. One of your most important responsibilities is to have good listening skills. It is at the top of “pull”. In any oral communication, we are constantly switching between being the speaker and being the listener.
A good active listener knows how to use their listening skills to help make the communication effective.
Obviously, we must listen attentively to the message. Without concentrated, active listening, much of the meaning will be lost.
The Chinese have a symbol for effective listening, which, when translated into English, is made up of five elements:
- You
- Your ears
- Your eyes
- Your heart
- Your undivided attention
