Communicate by
is ening L Well
Terry Sidford
A
re you a good listener? We can all learn to communicate more effectively if we communicate by listening well. This leads to better understanding of the communication that is received. People are naturally social and communicate in groups, churches, and sporting venues. If socialization is prevented, then our communication skills will have to change, and we will have to listen more attentively. In these unprecedent times with COVID-19 pandemic, many countries, communities, families and friends, have been forced into self-isolation. Social distancing is also the norm. This isolation and removal of closeness of humans is extremely hard on our social structure and cohesion. So, we must communicate more effectively which requires good listening skills. Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the
DISCLAIMER
communication process. It is a powerful tool that can open your ability to communicate and understand. Listening is the key to all effective communication. The impact is far reaching in many areas of your life. It effects your confidence, the quality of your relationships, as well as learning and understanding. Without the ability to listen effectively, messages can easily be misunderstood. Listening well is a skill on which you can improve. The first step is to become aware of your current listening skills: • How long does your attention span last when communicating with others? • How long, on average, do you feel people stay tuned into what you are saying? • How often to you feel you duplicate what you wanted someone to hear? • How often or what percent of the time GREAT HEALTH GUIDE | 29
