The Art of Listening
The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” ― Ralph G. Nichols
Listening, like walking, is an act that we take for granted, but there is a significant difference between hearing and listening, and listening and active listening.
Within the process of communication, the act of hearing, assuming no impediment to the process, involves registering sounds, which may or may not be recognised as words and sentences which make up information.
Unsurprisingly, active listening is an absolute skill required by those who wish to master the RESOLVE model and approach. It is normally a lack of skill in the area of listening that probably created a problem in the first place!
The difference between Listening and Active Listening could be considered to what is called a construct. At one end I may simply be attending to the speaker, without making any attempt to comprehend what they are saying, where my interaction is minimal, I may have little or no interest in them or their point of view, or have no intention of retaining any of their content, and I have no interest in challenging or exploring their ideas. This is sometimes referred to as passive listening. The other end would be deep active listening.
The Chinese characters that make up the verb to listen, point to a much more involved and comprehensive process than just hearing words, and highlight what is involved in the process of active listening;
The Art of Listening
The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” ― Ralph G. Nichols
Listening, like walking, is an act that we take for granted, but there is a significant difference between hearing and listening, and listening and active listening.
Within the process of communication, the act of hearing, assuming no impediment to the process, involves registering sounds, which may or may not be recognised as words and sentences which make up information.
Unsurprisingly, active listening is an absolute skill required by those who wish to master the RESOLVE model and approach. It is normally a lack of skill in the area of listening that probably created a problem in the first place!
The difference between Listening and Active Listening could be considered to what is called a construct. At one end I may simply be attending to the speaker, without making any attempt to comprehend what they are saying, where my interaction is minimal, I may have little or no interest in them or their point of view, or have no intention of retaining any of their content, and I have no interest in challenging or exploring their ideas. This is sometimes referred to as passive listening. The other end would be deep active listening.
The Chinese characters that make up the verb to listen, point to a much more involved and comprehensive process than just hearing words, and highlight what is involved in the process of active listening;