Barriers to effective listening

Barriers to effective listening

1. Excessive Talking (Think before you speak, and don't speak if you have nothing important to contribute, Avoid interrupting when the other person is speaking)

2. Prejudice (Prejudice is a preconceived opinion of feeling, which is usually irrational. Prejudice may be the speaker's race, religion, age or appearance. Lastly, prejudiced person will not make any effort to listen and understand.)

3. Distractions ( types of distractions are physical, mental, auditory and visual. We also have how to avoid this common barrier such as Face the person who is speaking, maintain eye contact while the other person is speaking ensure that you are comfortable.

4. Faking Attention (Make it a habit to listen attentively. It is advisable to assume that the other person knows something that you may not know. Avoid thinking about how to reply when the other person is speaking.)

5. Bringing in Emotions (Emotions erect barriers to effective communication. A listener's senses are not likely to be functioning at their optimum level when he or she is angry so the tips for this way is better to avoid conversations when you are angry or excessively sad)

6. Treating discussion as competition ( Treating discussion as competition is one of the most serious barriers to good listening. It greatly inhibits the listener from stretching and seeing a different point of view)