There are times when communication faces barriers that arise from listening skills of the parties involved. Such instances may force one to progress with the communication or halt it altogether, especially upon noting that the other party is not listening to the important information being passed across. In my case, I was communicating vital aspects of a group assignment and noted that the other person did not seem to be listening. It seemed that the person was only focused on their phone and was actively engaged in texting. Furthermore, he could not maintain a steady posture and kept fidgeting in their seat. At times, he would interject rudely without waiting for their turn to speak. When this happened, as the speaker, I felt angry with that person and even told him to concentrate for a while longer to ensure a fruitful conversation. Despite this, I made it clear that it is necessary that both sides show interest in the conversation, since after all, working together is necessary.
Upon assessing the situation, I identified certain listening barriers that presented in the scenario and impeded effective communication. Firstly, verbal interruption through impatiently interjecting impeded listening. Another barrier was divided attention where the person was texting while at the same time trying to listen to what I was saying. Thirdly, a lack of interest manifested through the loss of concentration and continuous fidgeting.
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Reflecting on the experience enabled me to come up with strategies towards becoming a better listener and also ensuring fruitful listening. To begin with, avoiding distractions from technological devices by putting them away in itself paves way for elimination of noise and allows for undivided attention to the speaker. Similarly, I would ensure that any clarification is sought after the speaker has finished instead of cutting them short. This would therefore equip me with ample time to listen to the speaker instead of looking for ways to respond. Another thing that I would do is to ensure that I clear my mind of any thoughts that may take away my concentration thus increasing my involvement in active listening.
