The Importance of Listening

Kiley Vaughan

English 101

30 August 2016

The Importance of Listening

        The world would be a better place if people listened to each other. Communication would be more real, and intimate if we understood the significance of listening. In life you have to know how to carry conversations, whether it be with a friend, coworker, or authority figure. That’s why language and the way we learn how to communicate is so important. This skill can positively affect many parts of our interactions with people and everyday life, however it is a skill that is overlooked in today’s society. Thinking rhetorically is a skill needed, for this kind of communication. When learning how to accomplish this skill you need to be able to hear and understand what others are saying and examine your view after.

        Most people often forget that we have one mouth and two ears, meaning we should listen twice as much as we speak. Listening is a skill that is acquired throughout a lifetime. It is a very important virtue when having conversations. Lack of listening skills affects relationships, parents and children, teachers and students, employers and employees, and the list goes on. If a married couple learned to sit down and listen to each other and consider each other’s points of views they could avoid misunderstandings that often lead to arguments. When parents and children experience a misunderstanding because of a lack of listening it can be very frustrating. Parents find themselves unable to provide guidance for them. The skill of listening would prove very effective in the workplace because employers would find out what motivates their employees which would cause an increase in production. When talking to a friend, boyfriend/girlfriend or colleague it is important to listen to their thoughts and opinions. When talking about listening, it is important to understand it is not just sitting and hearing someone speak. It is taking into consideration what they are saying, giving feedback, asking yourself why you think they think the things they do, and what is motivating them to have these opinions. Body language is a big part in effective listening as well. It shows the person you are listening to that you are paying attention and interested in what they are saying. Some examples are eye contact, nodding, and leaning towards the speaker. Sometimes when we are passionate about something we are talking about we tend to ignore what the other person is saying and just state our opinion and say it is right and It is very normal that we have different points of views, the key here is to respect each other’s opinions and focus on hearing what they have to say, rather than shutting their thoughts down and stating yours.