The phone rings, you look at the caller ID and think, “I just can’t talk to this person right now.” A few hours later you call back thinking, “I hope I get the voicemail.” They call back, this time you HAVE to answer. The TV and computer are on and your significant other is in the other room. You try to keep your voice low and suddenly realize you haven’t paid attention to a word they have said...
This familiar scenario popped into my head as I was reading this week’s assignments because nearly everyone today has experienced the same thing in some form or another.
Lu says that listening is the foundation for effectiveness of interaction, and the failure to listen causes more interpersonal problems than any other aspect of human behavior. (Lu 2005) I couldn’t agree more, and wonder how many times people might have been annoyed to get my voicemail or asked them to repeat what they had said because I was wasn’t listening.
Why are we such horrible listeners? If you stop to look around at all the distractions around us it begins to make perfect sense. We have email, voicemail, internet, television, cell phones, radios, mp3 players, instant messengers, and on and on. It is no wonder that most people today suffer from some degree of information overload.
At many work places people often sit in their cubicles feeling obligated to multi task and handle as many calls as possible. It seems no one ever stops to consider they may be cutting into the attention they should be giving to a customer? We feel obligated to always answer the phone but often cannot talk openly because of the situation or people surrounding us. Other times we don’t answer the phone at all after checking the caller ID. Without doubt new technology has changed how we interact with others, how much we interact, and who we choose to interact with and these changes are not always for the better.
Interestingly, how we listen varies by age. Younger workers use more electronic tools while older workers prefer face to face communication. (Bentley 2000) Multi tasking has its advantages, but there is something to be said about the “good ‘ole boys” personal approach. Because many of us are so desensitized by media, the extra time and personal connection goes a long way.
References
Bentley, S. (2000, May). Listening in the 21st Century. International Journal of Listening, 14, 129. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from Communication & Mass Media Complete database.
Lu, Jianying. (2005). The listening style inventory (LSI) as an instrument for improving listening skill. Sino-US English Teaching, 2 (5) 45-50.
2 comments:
Andrea,
I constantly see my co-workers typing emails while talking on their phones. I'm guilty of it as well! I doubt the receivers are getting the full message when we are distracting ourselves by using multiple forms of technology at once. Your blog made me stop and consider the fact that I should try to keep the multi-tasking in check so that I'm a more thorough communicator.
Liz
I am no good at talking on the phone and typing or reading. If I am on the phone the only thing productive I can do is walk around and organize things.
I am amazed by people that can talk on the phone and type a message to someone else.
Cat
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