NPTEL:

 Have you heard or have you listened?

 Listening is an integral part of communication skills
 It’s a misconception that talkative people are better at communication than calm and silent
people. Speaking is communication is also a misconception.
 Listening also consumes energy, listening is an active mental process whereas
hearing is an involuntary act.
 Listening and speaking both are equally necessary skills for jobs.
 The more one listens, the more one learns
 Good listening is an active skill that demands energy.
 A good communicator is a good listener.
 It is important to realize listening is not just paying attention to other person’s words
but also observing their facial expressions and body language.
 To be an effective listener one has to be completely involved in the communication
process.
 Effective listener should be conscious of preoccupations and distractions.
 For effective listening the mind should be open.
 Prejudice is judging/forming an opinion even before meeting/talking to the person.
 After one’s mind is open, listening without prejudice is an important thing – letting
unfair judgements obscure your opinions isn’t a good habit