Listen!

• Till recently, in communication workshops, the emphasis was on how to speak effectively.   Today the emphasis is on how to listen.

• It is found that over 45% of the work time is spent in listening.  
• We spend more than 40% of 24 hours, listening.
• Listening efficiency herein will influence the outcome of the interactions and this efficiency has been found to range between 25 and 50% .
• Atleast half of all new service ideas and 80% of product innovations, come from listening to the customers.

• Employers must ‘listen’ to employees.
• For harmonious relationships too listening is important.  
• Lack of listening makes the other person feel unimportant.
• Listening is also an expression of Love. 

• Listening is not just hearing.  It is to hearing with attention and alertness
• Lord Ganesha’s 2 big ears symbolise attentive listening
• Creator gave us two ears and one mouth.  Listen twice and speak half .

• “May we listen to the auspicious” says Atharva Veda
• Silence(Mounam) enhances listening.  Quieter the mind, deeper the listening.
• Vedas are called as Shruti, because for centuries, the Knowledge that was revealed to the Rishis was retained by the disciples in memory through listening.
• In Vedanta Saar Swami Sadananda says – “Shravanam naama tatparya avadharanam”  Listening is determination of the essence of what is heard.

• We listen with sympathy when we ‘understand’ others’ sorrows.
• We listen with empathy when we ‘imagine and experience’ their feelings.
• Listening is more than through ears.  It is through one’s entire being.

• Listening is living in attention.
• We do not listen if we are lost in our own world of personal fancies.
• We need to stop speaking autobiographically, to listen truly.
• We need courage to put aside selfishness and listen to others.

• The scriptures say that “Shravanam Matrena Gnanam Bhavati”  If one ‘listens’ attentively with a prepared mind, Liberation is instant.  One need not even reflect and contemplate.

• We tend to listen to what we want to listen(Filtered Listening) and not what is being said  (Factual Listening)
• External Barriers to Listening –
• Impaired hearing
• Fatigue
• Distractions& interruptions from- people, things, environment etc.
• Internal Barriers to Listening - 
• Prejudices
• Self-centeredness
• Assumptions
• Attachment to one’s ideas & Views
• Judging the speaker
• Social distances
• Pretending to listen etc.
• Be aware of the barriers and barricade the same.

• Listen with an Open Mind, with empathy.  Hold back hasty judgements. Don’t assume. Clarify your understanding
• Note down all the words that affect you emotionally.  Be alert to know in what sense the speaker is using them.
• A good listener keeps his eyes on the speaker.
• Sit quietly and listen to every possible sound around you, within you.  Quieter the mind, deeper is listening.
• ‘Listen’ to understand, before communicating to be understood. 
• Every flowers speaks if you have the EYES to listen.  Think!