What’s YOUR best way to hear?

  I would suggest that each of us have our own best way of hearing. Involved in hearing is the validity of what we do hear because we don't all hear in the same way, or even the same message. One point to remember is - how far removed from the source/subject of the message is the messenger? Remember the old 'gossip' game. Someone would whisper something in the ear of the person next to them, who would pass it on to the person next to them, and so on till the last person spoke the message out loud. This was often occasioned by a great deal of laughter since it was so different from what was originally said. 

  What you hear is influenced by many factors and not only the actual words. What you are feeling, how attentive you are to what is being said are two of those factors. Then there are the issues of semantics and definitions of words. How articulate the speaker was in the presentation of the message. How the message was conveyed (inflection, intonation, facial expression, etc.). These are some of the factors that influence and affect how and what we hear. But I would contend that YOU are the most significant factor in what you hear.

  If we simply divide listening into two categories, audio or visual hearers,  ... which are you? Do the words spoken paint a sufficient picture in your thinking to allow you understanding? Or, do you need an 'object lesson' basis to hear? Lastly, how do you react with/about what you heard? Do you apply your hearing, ignore it, or wait till you see how others are reacting? It is important, do you know what you do next?

  When you know how best you hear then when messages are presented that don't adhere to your standard, you can make exceptions to your best in order to hear and respond to messages. Our responding to what we hear is important... as long as we let the speaker finish the entire message before we determine what we say or do next. This final point really underscores hearing and responding. It is critical that we let the speaker finish the thought rather than assume. It can be embarrassing if we finish their thought only to discover we got it the wrong way round.