Question

Science writer Judith Stone wrote, ‘There are two ways to approach a subject that frightens you and makes you feel stupid: you can embrace it with humility and an open mind, or you can ridicule it mercilessly.” Translate this idea into advice for listeners of speeches. Name at least three problems caused by ineffective listening in public speaking and offer at least three specific strategies to improve your listening skills.

Answer 1

Ineffective listening causes more misunderstanding about the listened subject and the speaker. If people don’t listen effectively it would lead to erratic results in the tasks that they do. It would lead to assumptions which would also cause confusion in teams, family, school, society etc. In order to improve listening, one needs to keep oneself away from unnecessary distractions. One has to take notes while listening which would help the person focus. Secondly, one needs to be open minded to receive information and execute it flawlessly. Finally, one needs to be in a place and subject in which one is interested. It is personal interest that would drive one’s listening skills and this would also help one ask right questions.