How to Use the Right Type of Listening to Improve Your Communication
Good communicators are really just good listeners.
Nothing can be more frustrating than someone who has tuned you out. The person who truly listens creates a tremendous impact in the lives of others.
Effective communicators get that way because of their ability to listen. Good listeners tend to be more understanding, empathetic, and caring. They are teachers, nurturers, and healers.
But there are several types of listening. What are a few of them, and how can they improve how you interact with the world?
The first two types of basic listening are discriminative and comprehensive listening. Discriminative listening is pretty simple: it’s what determines the specific thing you are listening to.
This helps us to focus on one sound and drown out others. This is why you’re able to hear the doorbell even if you’re watching TV with a bunch of noisy friends.
Comprehensive listening is the next step up. This is simply listening to understand. Comprehensive listening is what you’re doing when you’re sitting in a classroom and understanding what’s being taught.
The next types of listening are higher forms and have more of an impact on how you interact…
