Why Don’t We Listen Better
Thomas M. Gilbertson
COM 200
Richard Bair
May 3rd, 2010

Why Don’t We Listen Better I know how to speak, and I can hear when people talk to me, but why is it that we still consume ineffective listening skills between one another? When we think of effective listening at work or on the job, most of us think of what we actually say or what is said to us. What I am going to cover is the factors and barriers of effective communication, strategies for active, critical and empathic listening and understanding the impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communication. Of course, communication is versatile whether we are at work or in other areas of our lives. At work, however, so much can be at
With the Major being from Guana the ways I showed ineffective listening by putting up barriers was not only inappropriate but may have offended him also. The more you know and the greater your willingness to achieve accurate, effective communication, the better your chance of being both an effective listener and communicator. Gender can play a big role in listening between men and women, even though we have different listening styles women are said to be people listeners. Now with the situation I was in with this Major there was no fixing the conflict we had with-in the time remaining. My supervisor, who happens to be a female and also from a different culture could feel the tension and disconnect going on, which was affecting others around us. After about an hour she offered to take over the situation the Major was having and effectively resolve the matter. Every organization has a distinct culture--a relatively stable picture of the organization's personality shared by its members. When evaluating an organization, a prospective member of staff ought to make sure that the culture is comfortable and positive. Firsthand observation and informal contact with current employees are good ways to analyze an organization's culture as there are so many in the military. The last outcome I would like to discuss is the three kinds of listening skills. First active listening is the single