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In the workplace, it is not how a message is intended that determines its effect but rather how it is received. As Robert Bolton states in People Skills, the distinction between hearing and listening is important. Hearing refers to the physiological process of receiving auditory sensations. Listening is more complex and involves the interpretation and understanding if those signals. One can hear a person without ever listening to him or her.
Whether or not one can actually listen and be listened topless an important role in the quality of our lives such as our satisfaction and effectiveness at work. More scientifically, listening is the awareness of, the tending to, the organization of, and the operational ization of data entering our nervous system via our hearing mechanism. Unlike hearing, which is a physiological passive activity, listening is an active cognitive process (Press, Kenneth). According to Troy May, writer for the health care and health science for the Business Journal, women are particularly better listeners than men. He states that "Women do tend to be better listeners and when faced with major decisions, women listen to both sides before making any conclusions and how her decision will affect other people is considered. This is because women like to listen and hear out all sides of an argument.
She is also a good team player who does not just jump into conclusions. (May, Troy). However, there is far more to listening than just keeping quiet although we all have been taught that this is the polite thing to do. There is an art to listening and there is a responsibility for the receiving partner to listen as actively as possible. Active listening is an attitude demonstrating concern, respect and interest. In the workplace, good listening can spell the difference between excellent or mediocre performance. Take the case of Ms.
Vaskelis who was assigned to take over the leadership role at Sequoia hospital. Prior to her leadership, the hospital had been having financial losses of $ 29 million. However, in a few years, the hospital gained a good foothold of its financial ground and is now profitable. At 57, aside from making use of her financial accounting background to revive the hospital finances, her firm but fair leadership style improved the employees performance. She attributes the success of the hospital to her active and emphatic way of listening to everyone (May, Troy). How did she succeed?
She was a good supervisor who knew that she must motivate, inspire, be led and lead, while making the environment safe for risks and mistakes. She demonstrated the ability to lead by example, ethically, morally and purposefully. She listened well to her employees, taking extra time and attention to the needs of people. She even communicated the vision and empowered the culture within the organization by listening to the other members of the organization who were at the bottom rank. She continued to build trust and lead the challenges of her constantly changing workplace. She did one-on-one heart-to-heart talks with staff who had particular problems to incorporate balance in their lives.
This encouraged her employees to think about life and work differently. The success of a well-managed organization is dependent on ones ability to organize, direct and motivate the efforts of the individuals by using that all important gift of listening. (Senge, 1990). More than this, active listening carries an element of personal risk because in that moment we are very close to seeing the situation the way one partner does, and it can be threatening to abandon our own position and adopt our employees, even for a few moments. It is important to note that the more absolute or rigid our position is, the more likely it is based on fear or threat to our personal integrity. She knew that learning through skilled listening requires a great amount of energy because the tendency is to do what comes naturally.
For many people, this is to be either passively silent or aggressively competitive while someone else is talking. Skilled listening begins with creating a climate in which there is concern and respect for what the speaker has to say. The most significant way people can demonstrate interest is with direct eye contact, which increases arousal and expands intimacy, as reflected in the saying, The eyes are the windows to the soul. It is a way of saying. Im with you, while remaining silent, as is the use of touch. A hand resting on an arm or knee is another way of maintaining contact during silence.
In reality, learning to communicate is just a matter of unlearning poor methods and old habits that presents a challenge. These habits are related to problems with both sending and receiving messages. This unlearning, coupled with a greater understanding of what makes people tick, will serve to create a better environment as well as more successful relationships.
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Research essay sample on Skilled Listening Active Listening People
