Test Learning to listen

QUESTION 1: WHAT IS LISTENING?

Listening may seem to be an involuntary ability, typical of most terrestrial species
For us as humans, it plays an indispensable role in the processes of communication and interrelational exchange
Listening is a natural process where we receive information from the medium of interaction and then act or respond
Using it as a method of orientation can also facilitate consistency in our actions

Hearing is an element of our five senses, but listening is a process of detailed analysis that only people with high standards of emotional intelligence possess
The good news is that this skill can be learned like everything else, but to incorporate it into our personality we must know its importance in communication and cultivate it

The main use of listening is to establish communicative relationships and to do this effectively we need to understand the person with whom we are interacting
We share personal information constantly, therefore we establish an empathetic relationship with our peers in order to understand their needs
To be interested in the subject of the conversation is essential to understand the essential idea of the conversation
Maintaining visual communication with our interlocutor ensures that we get his or her full attention and the opportunity to learn what we can learn

Learning to communicate is an art that many people long to master as it can guarantee success in various areas of life, both personal and professional
The first step in having a good conversation is to avoid distractions
Without realizing it, we tend to get distracted very easily and this is detrimental to any type of interpersonal relationship
If we start a communication and do not pay enough attention, then we run the risk that the motivation of both people will be lost and the exchange will be hindered, ending without conclusion

One factor that stimulates good communication is to ask open-ended questions
These make it easier to argue the information in a fluent way to those involved
Talking about all aspects of interest in the moment, developing the ability to empathize and share the experience can be one of the benefits of using this tool
On the other hand, closed or very specific questions lead to concrete and limited answers, turning the exchange into an unwanted interrogation

As part of the listening tools during the conversation, we maintain a relationship of respect for the time that the other person dedicates to us and therefore, in order to show it, we must avoid interrogations
Many people tend to introduce new topics in conversations without even concluding the previous topic and this often causes an unfavorable impression for those who are on the other side of the conversation
Something that becomes uncomfortable is when they talk about their own defects or achievements, centralizing the conversation in a defeatist way of thinking and lacking interest for the listener
From the moment we value the concerns of others, then they will value ours with the same importance

Active listening may be redundant, but it refers to deciphering by hearing the ideas, thoughts or feelings proposed by the other person
This practice involves an effort on our part to extract the central message
Another aspect that may be of interest during active listening is paying attention to body gestures
None of the above

In order to maintain a respectful relationship during good communication with other people, it is important to set aside both personal and social prejudices
If we do not want negative opinions to be unleashed about us or our topic of conversation, we must respect the beliefs and criteria of others
Making an unwelcome criticism towards our interlocutor can be detrimental to the communication and even friendly relationship that we could have consolidated in the future
Learning to listen is not simply an involuntary act when we keep in mind that we need to give and receive appropriate responses from our environment to achieve a good social purpose