How Often do we Really Listen?

Listening is a tool many think everyone is amazing at. It seems simple enough that one must just be quiet while someone speaks and that is active listening. The truth is that there are various things to keep in mind. Mastering this skill allows us to not only solve many problems at work or home, but also to see the world through the eyes of others, thereby opening our understanding and enhancing ourcapacity for empathy.

According to The Coaching Compass:

Most of us are distracted, preoccupied or forgetful about 75% of the time we should be listening.

We listen at 125-250 words per minute, but think at 1000-3000 words per minute.

Immediately after we listen to someone, we only recall about 50% of what they said.

More than 35 business studies indicate that listening is a top skill needed for success in business.

http://thecoachingcompass.com/tag/listening-statistics/

These statistics show that many of us can listen but in most cases are not fully concentrated on the conversation. People don’t listen to what you say. People listen to what they say to themselves about what you say.