Actually it is not. But is shows the importance of actually understanding what you are answering and what you are asking.
Are people really listening to each other? Don’t you just love it when you ask someone a question such as “do you want to go to the mall or the movies?” and the response being “yes.” Well, yes what? Yes the mall, yes the movies, yes I am not paying attention to you.
I work with one lady who is constantly “checks out” meaning while you are talking, she stops listening. It is very annoying, especially when she does not practice any type of active listening skills. There are certain people who cause me to “check out” so when they are talking I know I have to really, actively and closely pay attention. It is me taking what I know to be a problem and working on it. If we expect people to listen to us, we have to listen each other.
I know these are small examples, but if we are not listening to the small everyday issues then how are we listening to the big issues and correctly answering each other? I know someone who insists they “listen when they need to.” Well, I think we need to listen all the time, if we continue to “check out” we may stayed checked out.
So long, and thanks for all the fish.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
