| Listening is something we do on autopilot, so it's easy | | | | result is, that when we are listening to someone, we |
| to forget that it is a key skill in helping us to develop | | | | are continually jumping ahead of what is actually |
| productive business and personal relationships. | | | | being said. And what do we think whilst we are |
| Improving your listening skills, as most of us are | | | | waiting for the speaker to catch up? The answer is, |
| aware, is more difficult than you would think. Even | | | | of course, everything and anything that takes our |
| though it's something that we really want to listen to, | | | | fancy. We think about last night's TV, what we are |
| our minds wander and we lose concentration. Why? | | | | going to do at the weekend etc., etc., etc. In a word, |
| The problems | | | | we tend to daydream. How often have you rejoined |
| One of the reasons why listening is such a problem is | | | | a conversation with a guilty start to realise that a |
| that people speak at approximately 150 words a | | | | response was expected from you and you haven't |
| minute but think at about 600 words per minute. The | | | | got a clue what the question is? |