Listening is a skill that has to be mastered. It’s not the same thing as hearing. It’s hearing, comprehending, and responding to what was being said in the appropriate manner. Ask any parent about how tough it can be to get their children to listen. All of us have horror stories about telling children to clean up their mess five or 10 times before they actually do it. I’ve had a child basically run out of clothes because she heard us tell her a dozen times to bring her hamper to the laundry room, but she never actually listened to us.
Thankfully, most of us get the hang of listening as adults, when it becomes even more important for our business and personal relationships. And when you’ve advanced far enough in your career that you’ve reached a position of authority? Listening becomes critical.