Many people would say listening means hearing.  Hearing is actually a physical act.  Listening is a more intentional and emotional act.  When we hear- we accept the sounds- when we  truly listen- we understand what is said.

 

When we listen intentionally, we are engaged in an active verse passive activity.

 

One of the keys to effective listening is to have less focus on ourselves and place the focus on the other person.

 

We need to listen more and talk less.  A good coach/leader must practice the art of effective listening.

 

When you think about it, the need to be listened to is a deep sound need in all of us.  It’s simple, when people don’t listen to you, what is the emotion that is evoked?  We feel insignificant, irrelevant, misunderstood, ignored, and in many cases devalued.