By: Ranim Elgabakhngi
It is very rare that we get to the act of really hearing one another in spite of the fact that talking seems to cover the whole of our interactions. Showcasing both understanding and expression is a great way to nurture relationships, be it at work or in other environments. One can thrive in his/her venture where there is a good flow of communication.
Building Trust
Listening is the tool we use to trust each other, and through trust, we communicate more clearly. A person feeling heard tends to open up. When the speaker sees that on focus, his or her ideas count, the dialogue gets deeper by degrees. In those instants, a mutual feeling is being cultivated amongst the people engaged. The source of confusion in communication is most often the lack of listening. If the one talking the most is the only one who is heard, the feeling of trust soon fades away. Just being silent and showing that you are interested can say much more than words. Giving your best attention to someone is a demonstration of respect for him or her. Listening is essentially a mode of giving honor to the other person’s viewpoint.
Resolving Conflicts
Discussions among people naturally bring about disagreements. However, effective communication saves the situation from deteriorating further. The first person talks and the second listens intently. Such listening is more profound than words on the surface. Usually, unspoken causes are revealed only through silence and concentration. Once both parties have experienced being heard, their common grounds become visible. Solutions become simpler in the presence of understanding rather than confrontation. Conflicts arise when there is no more attention, and the mind relies on interpretations instead of facts. After clear and honest communication there is often a positive change – when one expresses him/herself frankly and the other one keeps the red attention.
Enhancing Collaboration
Very often, the success of a team is heavily dependent on how effectively the team members share their ideas. If people listen to each other, different points of view will be able to come out and then merge. Feeling that one has been understood is a necessary condition for self-esteem. This kind of transparency very often is the seed of innovative ideas and, at the same time, better results. One individual dominating the others is a major factor in loss of time, whereas collaborative discussion fosters progress. Listening to each other carefully helps take feedback to another level, which in turn leads to the development of better ways of doing things. When people exchange ideas openly, teamwork grows stronger – rooted in the act of listening.
Fostering Personal Growth
A person who is good in oral/written communication is likely to be a better self-understander in general. By listening very carefully, different perspectives will become visible – this can even get you to think outside the box. To look beyond one’s own frame enlarges both the insight and the ability to change. Putting one’s thoughts into words helps the speakers clarify their own thinking; however, on the other hand, attentive listening makes one gain knowledge. Most probably, this mutual sharing leads to a strong emotional awareness. As the person gets older, empathy and strength are quiet deepened. However, when listening is neglected, internal development also comes to a standstill – instead, one gets caught up in one’s own world. It is like the growth gets frozen/inhibited when no one hears the different voices.
Listening is the foundation of communication, operating so closely with everyday experiences as to be almost indistinguishable. It is through hearing each other that relationships mature, since attention is a shared and reciprocal occasion. Agreements become possible when individuals genuinely listen instead of merely reacting. Understanding is more difficult to achieve when members of any given group are constantly pressing the accelerator of their verbal communication. Personal development is always a silent process that takes place very close to the ears of the wise. Watching as these capacities turn little give-and-take into something significant and permanent.
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