Are You Listening to Me?
Any time a person finds himself distracted at work, either because of personal matters or worrisome professional matters, he runs the risk of missing out on key pieces of information that someone else is giving him. Wandering attention is just one of the things Joe Takash brings up in his article, The Four Sins of Bad Listeners. Takash’s advice could really come in handy for anyone about to go on an interview for an entry level job or internship.
Topping Takash’s list of bad listening sins is interrupting. No one likes to be interrupted, but sometimes people go on and on for so long without a break that the listener feels he just has to break in and ask his question or make his comment. Takash warns that the message sent by interrupting is: “I really am not interested in paying attention to what you have to say which is why I’m not allowing you to finish your sentence and telling you what I think instead.”
Finishing the speaker’s sentence is the second no-no on Takash’s list. This sin, says Takash, is worse than interrupting because instead of cutting the speaker off, the listener is actually speaking for hiim – something that Takash says most people find annoying.
Third on the list of listening offenses is lying or faking it when not paying attention. Takash warns that the people know when someone isn’t listening, even if they don’t confront the person about it, so it’s better to be honest and have the person repeat whatever he was saying.
Finally, rehearsing a personal agenda while someone else is speaking. Thinking about how to ask for a raise while the boss is talking about something else, is a bad idea. Takash recommends rehearsing the pitch in advance, then letting it go until an opening to speak presents itself.
It’s probably true that most people have committed one or more of these offenses at least during their careers, but Takash cautions against letting bad listening to become a habit. “Be vigilant for poor listening,” he advises. “That means questioning yourself regularly whether you’re listening with your whole being.”
Great advice for college students embarking on interviews for internships and recent graduates preparing for entry level job interviews.
