Is listening different from hearing?
Many of us believe that hearing and listening are synonymous. Actually, listening is different than hearing.
Hearing and listening are different as one hears many sounds all day long without understanding or paying any attention to them or listening to them.
A spoken message is worthless unless someone understands it – in other words, unless someone listens to it.
Who is A listener?
A listener is not one who merely hears the words that are said but also understands the meaning of those words.
This requires the ability to listen effectively and to carefully comprehend the communicator’s message.
Although listening is a key requirement for effective communication, most individuals listen at less than half the actual level of efficiency.
This sounds like hearing. So now, the question is…
Is listening different from hearing?
Listening is a harder work than hearing, because in the listening process, a person not only hears what is being said, but also attempts to simultaneously understand the facts and feelings of the speaker and tries to convey to the speaker that “I understand what you are saying”.
An effective listener always has an advantage over an ineffective listener. Time, money and opportunities are frequently lost because of poor listening skills.
A poor listener is not only rude, but also is not prepared to take advantage of a situation, to seize an opportunity, or to succeed ultimately.
Effective listening thus means hearing what is being said, seeking to understand the facts and feelings the speaker is trying to convey, and stating that you understand the message.
How to be a listener?
Several factors hinder effective listening for instance, listener’s free time while listening. On and average, one speaks about 125 words a minute but listens at a much higher rate, say about 500 words a minute.
As a result, seventy-five percent of listening time is free time, i.e. time to become mentally sidetracked by any number of distractions.
The physical surroundings, the speaker’s appearance, his mentioning a controversial concept or idea, or a problem nagging at the listener – all such factors can simultaneously compete for a listener’s attention.
So never ask again, is listening different from hearing?
– David Waltor
Vice Principal