The Top Barriers to Effective Listening are impediments that hold people back from listening. They are external barriers, imposed by others, imposed on us. They are usually behavioral. This means that they are not intended by the person who wants to learn or improve. Some people just have a hard time listening or they have a habit of interrupting and talking over other people. There are other situations as well where a person may be perceived as interrupting but what they really were trying to say was that their attention was wandering.
Other times they may be using the wrong tone of voice. It may be that they are speaking too softly or too loudly. In other words, one is using a tone of voice that does not match the person that is being talked to. So, instead of hearing what the other person is saying, they may just pick up on the sound of their own voice and just assume that it is coming from the speaker.
You must realize that listening is one of the first things you must learn in order to effectively communicate. If you want to have an effect on someone else, you have to effectively listen to them. Being able to listen effectively involves being able to put aside your own opinions and feelings and truly listen to what another person is saying. When we are unable to do this, then our communication is likely to be one sided and we will never be able to fully understand another person's needs or wants. Even if you think you understand a situation, you might miss out on important information that will prove to be valuable in the end.
There are different reasons why listening can be difficult for some people. One reason is that our natural tendencies are to be very direct and to say exactly what we want. Some people are great listeners but find it difficult to talk. If you want to know how to practice effective listening, you must first figure out how to stop being direct. Here are some top bars that can help you figure out how to do just that.
When you are talking to someone, you should never talk as if you are talking to a total stranger. Instead of saying something like, "You look nervous" or "You seem tense", try saying something like, "You seem anxious" or, "You seem nervous when I am trying to make you laugh". By saying these top bars, you will be able to let the other person know that you are not interested in talking about him or her personally; instead you are only interested in listening to what he or she has to say.
Everyone has something to say, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, others might not think the same way you do. The best way to approach someone who has a different opinion than you is to offer them the opportunity to talk. If you offer them a chance to express their thoughts, chances are they will be willing to talk. This is the only sure way of having a good conversation. By asking someone to express his or her opinion, you are already starting a conversation.
Many people are afraid of talking with people they don't know. However, if you are open and willing to listen to what another person has to say, you can learn a lot from that person. The top bars for talking are ones where you let the other person finish talking before you try to engage him or her in another conversation. You also don't have to start a large conversation; you can simply respond to what he or she has to say. This way, you both have something to bring up, which makes it easier to relate to one another.
The top bars for talking are the ones that force the other person to start a conversation with you. You don't have to give up your freedom to choose when you want to listen to someone. Instead, you should make sure you are paying attention and absorbing what the other person has to say. When you do this, you can almost guarantee that you will find yourself having a great conversation with that person.