Anna’s Lesson on Listening
Source: Uploaded by user via Attila on Pinterest
Our youngest Anna likes to talk. Though there is nothing wrong with liking to talk, taken to the extreme it is very annoying. Anna has a tendency to cut people off and talk over people. So we have been having a discussion about Listening.
First lesson is that we have one mouth and two ears. This is a great reminder that we should be listening more than we talk. Listening is more than just hearing. Hearing is about the physically being aware that there is noise going on. Listening is about actively listening. Active listening is about hearing and understanding the message. This takes more than just your ears. It takes a whole of body and mind to actively listen.
Anna today summed it up as:
1. Listen more than talk
2. Listen with all your body
3. Make eye contact
Though not a comprehensive list it is a great list to start with. What else would you add to the list for active listening?
For a related article please click through to Communication Basics.
Posted on Saturday, 17 Nov 2012, in Uncategorized and tagged Active Listening, Actively Listen, Actively Listening, Communication, Communications, Eye Contact, Hear, Hearing, Interpersonal relationship, Lead, Leader, Leadership, Listen, Listening, Manage, Management, Manager, People Skills, Teacher. Bookmark the permalink. 18 Comments.
Great post! I have slight listening issues at times as well. My issue is that I intrupt slightly, only because although I am listening to a person, I am also thinking of what my response will be and I tend to intrupt them by getting out my response before I forget. Bad, but I must say I have improved since I realized what I was doing and how annoying it was becoming to others. Anna will get it as well, as soon as no one bothers to listen to her…LOL!
Lol….. I know what you mean…. Anna gets her love of talking from me….
Atilla – great post! Our Mr.F (6) is a great talker but the temptation to chatter and interrupt is a difficult one to curb! Two ears and one mouth – I like it :} T+B
Yes…. I can take time for the lesson to sink in…. Then again I still have to remind myself at times also….
My oldest is ADD/ADHD and talks non-stop all day long. She isn’t rude but she has a lot to say and I don’t so I really don’t mind listening. I think some times kids are shut off too quickly. I would add to the list cues of people losing interest of becoming annoyed. I won’t tell my daughter she can’t talk or how much she can, but I have taught her cues. Another thing I do with my daughter is tell her when her “spirit” is overwhelming me a bit.
I like to idea of when her spirit is overwhelming you…. That is great…. It is important that children have a simple cue to let them know.
I really liked your post about your daughter listening. I have said the same thing to my foster son, who when he remembers will say I know I have two ears for listening. A great lesson. Thank you for following my blog – communication is such an important subject.
How old is your foster son? and how does he take the message?
I like it!
I just did a presentation to physicians on active listening last week. Big point was that they need to let their patients finishing telling them what is wrong before jumping in. Our mind can process words much faster that we can speak so we become bored and distracted easy. Active listening take work and patience. It is a great thing that you are teaching Anna at such a young age.
It is a challenge to let people finish talking… I know that at times I can show less patience than I should…
lessons, lessons, even as we grow old and die, there are still lessons to learn………
Life is a journey of discovery
That lesson should be taught to most adults I know.
How did your daughter receive the message? I am sending this one out to my Facebook friends. 
Anna has taken the message well, though I think it will be a little time yet and many more reminders before it will become a habit for her. At least now I just have to point to my ear and she knows that means it is time to listen.
It is good that you are starting with here while she is young. She will get the hang of it an remember in the future. You are a good father.
Well said on art of living.
Pingback: How to Listen Actively a Mentoring Moment