The Importance of Listening

759 Words2 Pages

A skill, according the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, is a learned power of doing something competently: a developed aptitude or ability. The skill of listening is a skill that I believe everyone should have but most people lack. Many people do not realize that listening is not merely the act of hearing a sound but of paying close attention to what someone is saying and trying to understand the message that they are trying to relate to you. Most times people say they are listening when in all actuality they are merely hearing you but not even attempting to understand what is being spoken of. The advantages of being a good listener are vast. This skill can positively affect many parts of our everyday life and interaction with people. Nevertheless, it is a skilled that is overlooked in today’s unmindful society. The reason I believe that listening is of such importance is because nowadays people have developed the mentality of “every man for himself.” People are not concerned about their fellows anymore. We are only concerned about our own issues and problems. Listening is a skill that is acquired throughout a lifetime. It is an important virtue when it comes to communication.People should be taught from childhood the importance of learning how to listen. If we realized how much we would benefit from being good listeners, I believe that things would change. Lack of listening skills affects marriages, parents and children, teachers and students, employers and employees, foreign affairs, and the list goes on. If a husband and wife learned to sit down and listen attentively to each other they could avoid many misunderstandings that oftentimes lead to disputes, separation and ultimately divorce. Lack of understanding between children and parents is a very frustrating situation. Parents find themselves unable to effectively and efficiently raise their children and provide guidance for them in situations that requires attention. If many teachers would strive at developing good listening skills there would be a decrease in the number of children that fall by the wayside unnoticed and never acquire a proper education. The skill of listening would prove very effective in the workplace because employers would realize what would motivate their employees and their employees would in turn be motivated and cause an increase in production. In foreign affairs listening would decrease the misunderstanding that so often can develop into animosities that can one day escalate to full blown wars.

Open Document