晨读英语美文 Being a Good Listener

Being a Good Listener
[00:13.41]Many people neglect this most important communication skill.
[00:18.84]Do you know that we spend
[00:20.83]an average of our waking day communicating?
[00:23.51]Of this communication time,
[00:25.85]9% is spent writing,
[00:28.04]16% reading,
[00:30.00]30% talking and 45% listening.
[00:34.15]Immediately after hearing something,
[00:36.32]most of us can recall only 50% of what we hear.
[00:40.30]Within two to eight weeks,
[00:42.58]we can recall only 25% or less of the original message.
[00:47.24]Our mental attitudes reduce our ability
[00:50.75] to retain what we hear.
[00:51.90]Some suggestions to being a good listener are mentioned below.
[00:56.24]First of all,
[00:57.64]stop talking
[00:59.74]you can't listen while you are talking.
[01:01.31]Ask questions
[01:04.18]when you don't understand,
[01:05.36]when you need further clarification,
[01:07.28]when you want them to like you and
[01:09.96]when you want to show that you are listening.
[01:12.68]Don't interrupt
[01:14.98]give them time to say what they have to say.
[01:17.01]Concentrate on what they are saying
[01:19.72]actively focus your attention on their words,
[01:22.84]their ideas and their feelings as they relate to the subject.
[01:27.52]Look at the prospect
[01:29.70]by looking,it gives them confidence that you are,
[01:32.16]in fact,listening.
[01:34.01]It helps you to concentrate too.
[01:36.28]Leave your emotions behind
[01:39.14]try to forget your own worries and problems.
[01:42.13]Leave them outside of the meeting room.
[01:44.76]They will prevent you from listening well.
[01:47.70]Understand the main points
[01:50.03]concentrate on the main ideas 
[01:52.89]and not the illustrative material.
[01:54.77]Don't argue mentally