LISTENING IS AN ART
By Olivene Godfrey
I enjoyed a recent T.V. interview with Clint Eastwood. Since he has a keen sense of humor, the interview was not only interesting but entertaining. The actor/director spoke seriously about the art and importance of listening. My ears perked up at that subject as that subject had sparked an idea for this column when my son failed to listen to something I was saying to him one recent day. Over the years, I have written several times on the importance of improving listening among all of us.
Wilson Mizner said, "A good listener is not only popular everywhere but after a while he knows something."
And it's true there is an art to listening. It's not easy to do since we think four times faster than we talk.
Listening improves a relationship because it reduces the chance of misunderstanding. Parents need to listen to children because it contributes to the child's sense of self=esteem and self-worth and he sees himself as someone worth listening to.
Someone said if people don't listen, and listening is the other half of talking, why talk? Many problems are solved, friendships made, and marriages saved, by patient and lively listening.
I've read that President Lyndon Johnson had a sign in his office which read: "You ain't learnin'when you're talkin". And, the good listener recognizes that to understand accurately he must hear clearly and must listen with care.
Close listening gives us an opportunity to see and hear and think about what's going on. In those fleeting moments when we really listen we find out what other people are like and how they feel and how they react.
If we become more appreciative listeners, we will inspire others to become more effective talkers. When we encourage others to express themselves, their satisfaction is reflected back to us, and we become better speakers.
If the speaker doesn't hold our attention, our mind wanders and we lose the trend of what is being said. Then, it becomes a chore to pick up where we left off. We may show we aren't listening by a blank look or even by a put-on expression which may cover us socially but doesn't help with good relations.
By Olivene Godfrey
I enjoyed a recent T.V. interview with Clint Eastwood. Since he has a keen sense of humor, the interview was not only interesting but entertaining. The actor/director spoke seriously about the art and importance of listening. My ears perked up at that subject as that subject had sparked an idea for this column when my son failed to listen to something I was saying to him one recent day. Over the years, I have written several times on the importance of improving listening among all of us.
Wilson Mizner said, "A good listener is not only popular everywhere but after a while he knows something."
And it's true there is an art to listening. It's not easy to do since we think four times faster than we talk.
Listening improves a relationship because it reduces the chance of misunderstanding. Parents need to listen to children because it contributes to the child's sense of self=esteem and self-worth and he sees himself as someone worth listening to.
Someone said if people don't listen, and listening is the other half of talking, why talk? Many problems are solved, friendships made, and marriages saved, by patient and lively listening.
I've read that President Lyndon Johnson had a sign in his office which read: "You ain't learnin'when you're talkin". And, the good listener recognizes that to understand accurately he must hear clearly and must listen with care.
Close listening gives us an opportunity to see and hear and think about what's going on. In those fleeting moments when we really listen we find out what other people are like and how they feel and how they react.
If we become more appreciative listeners, we will inspire others to become more effective talkers. When we encourage others to express themselves, their satisfaction is reflected back to us, and we become better speakers.
If the speaker doesn't hold our attention, our mind wanders and we lose the trend of what is being said. Then, it becomes a chore to pick up where we left off. We may show we aren't listening by a blank look or even by a put-on expression which may cover us socially but doesn't help with good relations.
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