Listening is the most difficult communication skill because it requires us to climb out of ourselves and into others’ perceptions of reality. Empathy and sympathy are based on listening. Those who genuinely care about others are listeners by nature or training.
Here are 7 common signs of poor listening.
1. Judging others too quickly and harshly
2. Jumping to premature conclusions
3. Responding thoughtlessly
4. Basing opinions of others on first impressions
5. Failing to set aside one’s biases and prejudices
6. Seeing reality solely from one’s own, limited perspective
7. Focusing on self-centered agendas
—Dr. Q