Page 18 - VoicesJan2015 .pub
P. 18
You Listening?
Phyllis Harmon, DTM
By the end of a 10-minute presentation, to forget so quickly?
research conducted by the International Chances are it's
Listening Association and studies done in because we speak at
the late 1980's and early 1990's, indicate 125-250 words a
that most people will have forgotten 50% minute and think at 1000-3000 words a
of what they initially heard. Six days later, minute. This means we are only using 25%
most people won’t remember any of what of our brains to listen while the other 75%
was said. is involved in daydreaming, thinking about
As a speaker and trainer, I found the above something else, or forming a response to
research appalling. As Toastmasters, the speaker. . . all traits of ineffective and
presenters, and trainers, we spend an poor listeners.
awful lot of time putting together our Active listening is one of the most
materials and practicing how to deliver difficult skills to master. It requires
our content with impact. Professional us to concentrate, solve problems,
speakers are paid well to present and make decisions. Not with just
information that probably will not be one speaker, but with every single
remembered in little over a week. person we communicate with. Is it
Did the last presentation you heard make any wonder that we jump into
a lasting impression? Think about it. How conversations prematurely, tune out,
much of it do you remember? Maybe one and get accused of not listening?
or two words? How about an entire Active listening is also the one critical skill
concept? Or the calls to action that you we aren’t taught. And yet, it is the one skill
were going to implement? employers, politicians, friends, and families
Why don't we remember? What causes us value the most.
There is a difference between hearing and
listening. Hearing is a passive activity.
Sound waves enter the ear and are
processed by the brain. It happens
whether you are awake or asleep. Unless
you are hard of hearing, you don’t have to
strain to tune into the noise that is all
around us. Just as we can tune into noise,
(Continued on page 19)
18
Phyllis Harmon, DTM
By the end of a 10-minute presentation, to forget so quickly?
research conducted by the International Chances are it's
Listening Association and studies done in because we speak at
the late 1980's and early 1990's, indicate 125-250 words a
that most people will have forgotten 50% minute and think at 1000-3000 words a
of what they initially heard. Six days later, minute. This means we are only using 25%
most people won’t remember any of what of our brains to listen while the other 75%
was said. is involved in daydreaming, thinking about
As a speaker and trainer, I found the above something else, or forming a response to
research appalling. As Toastmasters, the speaker. . . all traits of ineffective and
presenters, and trainers, we spend an poor listeners.
awful lot of time putting together our Active listening is one of the most
materials and practicing how to deliver difficult skills to master. It requires
our content with impact. Professional us to concentrate, solve problems,
speakers are paid well to present and make decisions. Not with just
information that probably will not be one speaker, but with every single
remembered in little over a week. person we communicate with. Is it
Did the last presentation you heard make any wonder that we jump into
a lasting impression? Think about it. How conversations prematurely, tune out,
much of it do you remember? Maybe one and get accused of not listening?
or two words? How about an entire Active listening is also the one critical skill
concept? Or the calls to action that you we aren’t taught. And yet, it is the one skill
were going to implement? employers, politicians, friends, and families
Why don't we remember? What causes us value the most.
There is a difference between hearing and
listening. Hearing is a passive activity.
Sound waves enter the ear and are
processed by the brain. It happens
whether you are awake or asleep. Unless
you are hard of hearing, you don’t have to
strain to tune into the noise that is all
around us. Just as we can tune into noise,
(Continued on page 19)
18
