Listening is the most neglected form of communication. For the patrol officer, SWAT negotiator or investigator, listening skills may be a critical survival skill.
Hearing words is not enough. Understanding the message is. Proper listening techniques are not taught in school. We are taught to talk, read, write and sometimes, think. However, most of us are not taught the art of listening, one of the most important functions of humans.
The average person talks at about 125 words per minute. We listen at about 400 words per minute. This gap is the primary cause of poor listening skills. The mind is thinking faster than the speaker is talking. This gap opens the door for the listener's mind to ...