All parents are excited when their children say their first words, but it’s equally important that they listen when parents give instruction or warning. Terrible listening skills start young as toddlers run off with parents calling “STOP!” from behind. It continues through the teenage years with eye rolls and the zoned out/glazed eye stare as mom or dad provide life lessons from their own experiences. Technology drags our eyes downward as early as elementary school and continues long into adulthood – distracting us as we make weak nods of acknowledgement and provide little eye contact to the person speaking.

We might think we listen, yet we do not always “attend” to the person who is speaking to us. We are too busy doing other things or even thinking about things while others are talking to us! How many times do you catch yourself holding onto judgments, opinions, or even beliefs about someone or something that is being said – while they are talking! How good of a listener are you? Want to know for sure? Ask the people closest to you. Don’t get upset if they tell you areas for improvement. Use it as a starting point for a positive change!