Listen is a word with many associations. What does it bring to mind for you? An appeal to tune in to a beautiful song? A command to be quiet and pay attention? A punctuation point at the start of a joke? The skill of listening and hearing what others say, or taking in sounds from around us as well as from within us, can be an undervalued process – although not by M Scott Peck, author of The Road Less Travelled, who wisely observes: ‘You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.’
The action itself is a broad church with diverse purposes – such as listening to understand, to be informed, for enjoyment and to learn. How we tune in and what we comprehend from the vibration of sound can vary widely too, and studies suggest most people remember between only 25 and 50 per cent of what they hear. So, it seems this is something that we can all benefit from improving – one vital way to be better at it is to practise active listening. That can mean making a conscious effort to hear the words that someone is saying as well as the complete message they’re conveying. Becoming a better listener can also benefit work relationships and help to avoid conflict and misunderstandings. It can also connect you to and develop your creativity.