I need to be a better listener
Although listening may be the simplest of the communication skills to understand intellectually, it's without a doubt the most difficult to master, and no one is quite sure why. Perhaps it's because traditional schools teach reading, writing, and speaking as stand-alone subjects. If somewhere a college or university is offering Listening 101, we haven't heard of it. In addition, listening appears to be a passive process, because the effort it requires is mostly, but not all, mental. Listening looks easy. It demands, however, an incredible amount of concentration and self discipline.
Good listening requires becoming completely involved — mentally, emotionally, and physically — in the listening process. Understanding what's going on inside the heart and mind of another person is actually more than a skill. It's an art, the mastery of which is invaluable and worth every bit of effort you put into it.
