The Art of Listening: From Pretending to Empathy

Do we truly listen to the people we encounter in our daily lives, whether they are familiar faces or strangers? Here, we'll go through different types of listening and analyze how we can improve ourself.

Get lost!! I'm too busy for you: It's totally cool if you notice people zoning out during a talk. Many just focus on their tasks during meetings instead of tuning in. But hey, does that actually help them get stuff done?

Pretend to listening: Sometimes, we are unable to ignore the importance of certain individuals in our lives, such as family members or our superiors. As a result, we choose to pretend to be interested in what they say. This can be observed when people nod or show signs of agreement periodically. However, does this behavior actually bring any benefits to those involved?

I will only listen to the words that I choose to hear:

There are individuals who attend meetings with a predetermined agenda. Rather than actively listening to others, they steer the discussions towards their own agenda and promote it. They only pay attention to what aligns with their preconceived notions.

Listens attentively:

This form of listening requires significant patience and energy. Individuals engaging in this type of listening actively listen to you, inquire, engage in logical debates on the subject at hand, and may even form judgments based on your conversation. It is undoubtedly a superior form of listening, as they comprehend the information, may rephrase it, repeat it, or summarize it back to you to ensure their understanding.

Empathetic listening:

The empathetic listening is a rare skill possessed by few individuals. Those who excel in this skill not only comprehend the logical aspects but also empathize with you without judging you. They acknowledge the uniqueness of each individual, recognizing that everyone has their own perspectives and obstacles. Individuals with this skill make exceptional people managers.

Regrettably, the majority of us fall into the first three categories. However, the encouraging news is that listening is a skill that can be acquired and perfected with dedication and hard work. Enhancing our listening skills requires considerable effort.