Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Paralegals & Legal Secretaries Blogs -> Impartial Inc

Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

: Impartial Inc

Do You Hear What I Hear?

By RJ

?Said the king to the people everywhere! Listen to what I say. Listen to what I say!? Did you listen?

In the business world the employer is the king. Are you listening when the king speaks? Nine times out of ten people really aren?t listening when spoken to.

Effective communication is important in the business world. The first step to effective communication is active listening. We all need to learn the art of active listening before we can succeed with effective communication.

I believe there are three types of listeners: Active, Passive, and Tuned Out, or what I like to refer to as UH, UH HUH, or HUH?

UH aka Active Listener: This is an individual who chooses to pay attention to what you are saying. Therefore, they actually hear the words you are speaking without complication, confusion or distraction. If asked, they would be able to repeat what you said. Not only can active listeners repeat what you say, they understood what you said ? or asked for clarification so they could fully understand what you have said.

UH HUH aka Passive Listener: This is an individual who says UH HUH frequently while you are talking. Generally, they are looking right at you while you are speaking. Unfortunately, they only hear ½ of what you have actually said. These listeners want to listen, but have their minds elsewhere, or they have a physical impediment that prevents them from clearly focusing when someone speaks (e.g. A.D.D.). With this type of listening an individual retains ¼ of what you have actually said.

HUH? aka Tuned Out ? Not Listening: This is an individual who either A) is busy and completely focused on their work, and therefore chooses not to listen; B) really could care less about you or what you have to say so intentionally tunes you out; or C) has their mind elsewhere and is unable to focus on anything you have to say. This type of listener does not retain anything from what you have said. Sometimes, they may not even know that you have spoken. Do not depend on this type of individual to communicate back any of what you have said.

It is important that we can recognize what type of listener we are speaking to. By identifying the type of listener we?re dealing with we can ascertain if they will be able to follow instructions after we have spoken with them. In a working situation, of course, it is ideal to always have the UH employee. Unfortunately, you most likely receive the HUH employee. Hopefully this is because they are so focused on what they are doing they simply couldn?t hear you. If this is the case, make sure you follow up your conversation with a written note or email.

So what about the UH HUH and HUH employees? Let?s just fire them all! That really doesn?t solve the problem. Instead, each of us as individuals must take an active role in listening and communicating. If you recognize that you are speaking to an UH HUH or HUH employee, simply ask them if they can give you their undivided attention or schedule a time to meet when that person can give you their full attention.

Likewise you need to provide your attention when someone is speaking to you. This means if you are the UH HUH or the HUH employee/employer, you need to recognize, acknowledge and act upon your knowledge. Therefore, state you are unable to retain the importance of what the individual is delivering at this time and ask if you can speak at a later time. Or try asking them to allow you completion time for the project you are working on and then you will provide them with your undivided attention.

To effectively communicate with one another we must first recognize our ability to be an active listener. Once we can each become an active listener we will have taken a very important step toward the art of effective communication. Be an active listener!

Full post as published by Impartial Inc on April 09, 2008 (boomark / email).