Here is an interesting and informative article on listening.
[h=1]Types of Listening[/h] 
We all appear to listen attentively to what is being told to us. But surprisingly we hardly listen to 50% of what is being told to us and later on hardly remember 50% of what we had listened to!
This is due to the defective listening techniques we employ. There are several defective listening techniques like ‘false listening’, ‘initial listening’ and ‘partial listening’. On the other hand ‘good listening’ can be either ‘full listening’ or ‘deep listening’.
False listening occurs when a person pretends to listen keenly, but actually nothing gets registered in his mind. People who are known to indulge in this kind of listening are the Royalty, Politicians, Sports stars, Film stars and famous persons in any other field. They are forced to listen to a lot of talk, from persons whom they may never meet again! So they need not listen to nor remember, what they are being told!
Initial listening is when we listen to the opening remark, immediately form an opinion about it and wait for a chance to voice it. We stop listening to everything that follows the initial remark.
Partial listening is what most of us do most of the time! We listen a little and soon get diverted or distracted and lose the continuity.
Full listening is the most active form of listening. The listener pays close attention to the speaker and understands thoroughly what is being conveyed to him.
Deep listening is, when we not only listen to the words being spoken, but also understand the underlying emotions. We watch the body language of the speaker. We grasp the needs, preferences, biases, values and beliefs of the speaker. Deep listening is called as “the whole person listening”. It is also the wholesome listening technique.
It is said that, “The best gift you can ever give a woman is your undivided attention.” This is the gift every woman seeks for, all her life, but sadly very few ever receive it!
Visalakshi Ramani
102. Types of Listening | The wonderful world we live in
