Listening Skills.

Listening is the awareness of, the tendency to, the organization of, and the operationalization of data entering our nervous system via our hearing mechanism. Unlike hearing which is a physiological passive activity, listening is an active cognitive process" (Petrass 1999). We spend much of our time having to listen. Listening is critical in almost all activities of our lives- in attending meetings and conferences, lectures, in giving and receiving instructions, and helping staff and customers. Listening is hard work and takes energy and effort. Effective listening requires certain skills that must be practiced. One must be able to do nothing but listen with all his attention and concentration. Johnson (1996) says, "The contrast between hearing and really listening can be as different as night and day."

What makes a good listener? There are many important skills and practices involved in effective listening; most have to do with focusing...
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