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Factors That Impede

Listening & Learning

Created By Kain Ramsay

 FACTORS THAT IMPEDE LISTENING & LEARNING

'Active Listening' is a term which is commonly used in many of the helping

professions. It is the most effective form of listening and although listening is
commonly considered as a passive skill, 'active listening' requires effort to build
and develop it. 

The psychologist Gerald Egan (1994) describes some common factors that get in the
way of 'active listening'. These are important factors to consider if you're looking to go
on and work with clients in the future. Not only this, but becoming aware of these
factors in yourself as you work through the course will help you to learn and get the
most from the teaching. 

Obvious External Factors - For example, noise, physical discomfort, interruption,

mobile phones etc.

Response Rehearsal - This occurs when you switch off from listening to the other
person, often through impatience, and instead focus on what you want to say next.
As a result you don't actually hear what the other person is saying

Fact Finding - This occurs when you search for the facts and details of what
someone is saying, instead of listening to the overall message they are trying to
communicate. Fact finders often focus on what's 'not right' - they're so focused on
the imperfections of what someone is communicating that they actually miss
what's important

Being Judgemental - When you form judgements about the other person as
supposed to listening to them and seeking to understand them

Problem Solving - This occurs when you try to problem solve and find solutions to
the other person's problems instead of listening to what they're actually saying.
You become so distracted by your own thoughts that you miss the core message
of what they're trying to say

Imposing Personal View - Considering your own view point to be the only correct
one and therefore being closed to the views of others. This often takes the form of
focusing on your own opinions, giving advice etc., as supposed to listening to the
core message that the other person is trying to express