Nichols identifies the 10 most common ineffective listening habits.

These are as follows:

1. The ineffective listener criticizes the speaker s topic by calling it uninteresting or boring . 2. The ineffective listener criticizes the speaker s appearance and manner of delivery.

3. The ineffective listener mentally argues with the speaker. 4. The ineffective listener pretends to listen to the speaker.

5. The ineffective listener is guilty of giving the speaker the wrong impression that he is listening by looking at the speaker and nodding once in a while when in fact, he is thinking of something else.

6. The ineffective listener tolerates or creates distractions while the speaker is talking. 7. The ineffective listener avoids listening to difficult materials.

8. The ineffective listener reacts emotionally to some messages. 9. The ineffective listener tends to daydream during long presentations of ideas.