What is the difference between hearing and listening?

The really simple answer is that hearing is the physical ability for the ear to detect sound waves and send them to the brain. Listening is the brain interpreting those sounds into meaning.

 

But in language we don’t use hearing and listening with that strong delineation.

 

When someone says, “You aren’t listening to me!” What we usually mean, “You aren’t doing what I told you to do.”

 

When we say, “Can you hear me?” we don’t just mean, “is the sound of my voice reaching your ears?” What we mean is, “Are the sounds I’m making getting to your brain so you can interpret them?”

 

We use listening to share memories, pass along information and resolve conflict.

 

Dr Bob Choat spun off of Philip’s comment about dialog and shared that disagreement should start with listening. Too often we see disagreements (often online) where everyone is screaming and no one is listening.

 

As I type that it occurs to me that “listening” can also be used to mean to thoughtful read someone’s comment before responding.

 

Philip Tate made three points about mid-way through the conversation summing up what we had discussed so far: Ask good questions. Wait to speak. Stay focused/present in the conversation.

 

Something to consider about listening is that it requires a pause in the conversation. That time to absorb what is being said, consider it and then formulate your response.

 

Unfortunately, that pause is usually filled by someone who was thinking about what they wanted to say rather than listening.

 

I am also wondering, what the difference is between listening and communicating. Is communicating more about talking or is there a listening component inherently included in the idea of communication?

 

Connect with the panelists:

Dr. Bob Choat: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobchoat/

He has eight years military experience, worked with the LA PD, was a stage hypnotist, owned a wildly successful business and is going back to school for another PhD. This time in physics 

 

Philip Tate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philiptateaprfellowprsa/

He is a communications consultant doing Brand Building | Strategic Communications and Marketing based in Charlotte NC

 

Dr Robyn Odegaard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynodegaard/

Concierge High Performance Psychologist providing luxury level support to executives, entrepreneurs, celebrities, dignitaries and athletes as well as the Facilitator of the Quick Hits podcast

 

Want a summary of the Quick Hits I post every week, plus the links to the LinkedIn pages of each of the panelist to show up in your in-box every week? Just let me know where to send it: https://drrobynodegaard.com/quick-hits-notifications/

 

 

  #QuickHits are designed to exercise your brain by letting you listen in on an unscripted conversation to get other people's thoughts on pertinent subjects. If you would like to join a conversation or have a topic you would like to hear discussed, please message me. https://www.DrRobynOdegaard.com

 

#hearing #listening #communication