Speakers should be given respect when they are speaking and should be allowed your full concentration. Interruptions display a lack of respect for the speaker. Further, the listener who interrupts runs the risk of misinterpreting the message since the speaker was not allowed to fully articulate his or her thoughts. Other related bad habits are concentrating on preparing your reply, rather than focusing on what the speaker is saying. .
2. Criticism (Prejudice) - Poor listeners often fail to listen to the entire message, because of preconceived ideas or prejudice they feel about the speaker that the message is ignored. Other examples of criticism or prejudice are assuming the message will be too dull or difficult to understand and tuning out; or, creating a barrier to tune out ideas and beliefs that are different from your own. .
3. Daydreaming/Lack of Focus/Preoccupation - "Tuning out" or daydreaming while a speaker is speaking is another common poor listening habit. The listener is not focused on the speaker, is not concentrating on the message, or is preoccupied with an internal or environmental event that he fails to comprehend the intended message. .
4. Emotion - Allowing emotion to impact your ability to listen is another common habit. Examples are becoming so emotional about a message that you lose track of what is being said, or listening primarily for facts and not being alert to the emotional elements of the message. .
MODELS/GUIDELINES FOR ACTIVE LISTENING .
Since good active Listening Skills can be acquired, below is a list of guidelines that will hopefully brush up our skills. With more practices and time, our efforts and hard work will hopefully pay off and turn us into good listeners. .
These guidelines will also counteract the barriers mentioned earlier.
1. Be Patient - Listen patiently to what the other person has to say, even though you may believe it is wrong or irrelevant. Indicate simple acceptance, not necessarily agreement, by nodding or perhaps injecting an occasional "mm-hmm- or "I see-.