Barriers to Effective Listening and Ways to Overcome Them

This essay explores the barriers to effective listening and provides strategies to overcome them in the context of the provided book. It discusses factors such as distraction, multi-tasking, and differences in thought and speech rates. It also highlights external distractions and personal judgments as major barriers to effective communication. The author shares personal experiences and suggests practicing a positive outlook and respect for others as ways to overcome these barriers.

Running Head: MANAGEMENT
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Management
2/23/2019

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The essay will explore the meaning and influence of effective listening, barriers and
the ways to overcome them in context to the book mentioned in the requirements.
1.
In context to the textbook provided, the essay described the barriers, which influences
the listening abilities of an individual and hampers the growth to become a good listener.
Some of the barriers to effective listening abilities in any organisational settings or in general:
These factors include distraction/interruption, multi-tasking, or due to the factor of difference
between the thought rate, and the speech rate. One of the most common factor or barriers to
effective listening may also include, listening from one’s own perspective. Information
overload and multi-tasking is one major barrier mentioned in the textbook, as it stated that
many people reported the issue of being distracted within every three minutes during their
work. Difference between the thought-rate and speech-rate has been another barrier to
effective listening discussed in the book, which refers to the difference between the speaker’s
rate of speech, and it further creates differences or confusions in the mind of listener
(Brownell, 2015).
2.
To discuss about all the barriers or factors affecting effective communication
affecting the organisational goals and human relations are numerous, but there are some of
them, which are more challenging and have a major impact on the individuals. Thus, the
barriers which are more challenging or which can be related in our daily-lives may consist of
external distractions and personal judgements, and prejudices. The distractions in effective
listening play a negative role in the development of healthy human relations within an
organisation, along with factor of prejudice has been another barrier to effective
communication (Ghobadi & Mathiassen, 2016).
3.
In context to my own experiences, and skills of effective communication or listening
stated that ‘prejudice’ has been the major factor affecting my communication with others
(Gilakjani & Sabouri, 2016). In past, there were several cases when I preconceived people
for their skills, talent, and knowledge, and their identity irrespective of their background. This
had the major issue or factor, which affected my relations with my peers, friends, and other
close ones (Reece & Reece, 2016).

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4.
I would overcome or face the issue or barrier of effective listening or communication
through practising a positive outlook towards listening other’s point of view, and their
problems. In addition, I would listen to and give respect to my peers, friends, and other elders
in the family as well as external environment. These changes will lead to an improvement in
my attitude and facilitate in effective listening or communication.
To conclude the above discussion it has been analysed that effective listening is the
key to successful and healthy human relations, thus these should be undertaken in an
effective manner.

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References
Brownell, J. (2015). Listening: Attitudes, Principles, and Skills (Subscription). United
Kingdom: Routledge.
Ghobadi, S. & Mathiassen, L. (2016). Perceived barriers to effective knowledge sharing in
agile software teams. Information Systems Journal, 26(2), 95-125.
Gilakjani, A. P. & Sabouri, N. B. (2016). Learners' Listening Comprehension Difficulties in
English Language Learning: A Literature Review. English Language Teaching, 9(6),
123-133.
Reece, B. & Reece, M. (2016). Effective human relations: Interpersonal and organizational
applications. United States: Cengage Learning.