According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, the definition of Hearing is “to perceive sound with the ear” whereas listening is “to consider with thoughtful attention.” So, hearing is a physical thing, but listening is a cognitive response to what has been heard.

Barriers to listening

There are many barriers to hearing and listening. Listed below are the most common barriers:

Barriers to Hearing

– Background noise
– Health issues

Barriers to Listening

– Lack of interest
– Fatigue
– Distractions
– Environment
– Impatience
– Results of poor listening skills

The results of poor listening can be many and varied, but chief amongst these are:

– Misunderstandings
– Lost opportunities
– Wasted time

Characteristics of an effective listener

Effective listeners display many characteristics. They:

– Must be an active listener
– Evaluate speaker’s words and feelings
– Put themselves in speaker’s shoes
– Feedback what they think the speaker means

Effective listeners listen with their ears, eyes, head, and heart!

Keys to effective listening

So, how can you be an effective listener? By applying the following seven points you can improve your listening skills in any situation:

1. Find areas of interest
2. Judge content, not delivery
3. Hold your comments till the end
4. Listen for ideas and themes
5. Concentrate on listening
6. Resist distractions
7. Keep your mind open

http://www.toastmasters.org.nz/speaking_resources