Com 200 Final Paper
Why Don’t We Listen Better
Thomas M. Gilbertson
COM 200
Richard Bair
May 3rd, 2010
Why Don’t We Listen Better I know how to speak, and I can hear when people talk to me, but why is it that we still consume ineffective listening skills between one another? When we think of effective listening at work or on the job, most of us think of what we actually say or what is said to us. What I am going to cover is the factors and barriers of effective communication, strategies for active, critical and empathic listening and understanding the impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communication. Of course, communication is versatile whether we are at work or in other areas of our lives. At work, however, so much can be at stake and we may have to actually work with a variety of individuals. With that said, being in the military and having good listening skills for what ever job you may have equals effective productivity. My job is looked at as a customer service, helping other Marines with personal and non personal issues so that they don’t have to worry about anything and concentrate on there job. Dealing with over two hundred Marines per day five days a week you need effective listening skills, and if you choose not to then you pay the price. I can recall a time a couple of months ago when I had a Major (Officer) from Guana come in to do his thirty day travel claim, which mobilized reservist are required to do. Now I’ve been doing this job for over ten years, so I pretty much know what’s going on. Anyways when the Major sat down he gave me four months of receipts and claims that he failed to complete from prior months. Are policy is after five days the Marine is suppose to be notified to come in and complete a required travel claim, which he failed to comply. Working in a stressful environment and putting up with others excuses and ignorant people you consume factors and barriers that affect your listening capabilities. Laziness is a common
Thomas M. Gilbertson
COM 200
Richard Bair
May 3rd, 2010
Why Don’t We Listen Better I know how to speak, and I can hear when people talk to me, but why is it that we still consume ineffective listening skills between one another? When we think of effective listening at work or on the job, most of us think of what we actually say or what is said to us. What I am going to cover is the factors and barriers of effective communication, strategies for active, critical and empathic listening and understanding the impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communication. Of course, communication is versatile whether we are at work or in other areas of our lives. At work, however, so much can be at stake and we may have to actually work with a variety of individuals. With that said, being in the military and having good listening skills for what ever job you may have equals effective productivity. My job is looked at as a customer service, helping other Marines with personal and non personal issues so that they don’t have to worry about anything and concentrate on there job. Dealing with over two hundred Marines per day five days a week you need effective listening skills, and if you choose not to then you pay the price. I can recall a time a couple of months ago when I had a Major (Officer) from Guana come in to do his thirty day travel claim, which mobilized reservist are required to do. Now I’ve been doing this job for over ten years, so I pretty much know what’s going on. Anyways when the Major sat down he gave me four months of receipts and claims that he failed to complete from prior months. Are policy is after five days the Marine is suppose to be notified to come in and complete a required travel claim, which he failed to comply. Working in a stressful environment and putting up with others excuses and ignorant people you consume factors and barriers that affect your listening capabilities. Laziness is a common
References: Hybels, S. & Weaver, R. (2007). Communicating Effectively. McGraw Hill: Boston. http://www.anonymousemployee.com/csssite/sidelinks/poor_communication.php http://humanresources.about.com/od/interpersonalcommunicatio1/a/nonverbal_com.htm