Hearing is the acceptance of information by the eardrum and the brain. Listening is the ability to act upon that information, accepting it or rejecting it, evaluating its worth, and applying the information to a particular situation. The differences are profound.

Hearing is done with the ears; listening with the brain. According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, the definition of Hearing is "to perceive sound with the ear" whereas listening is "to consider with thoughtful attention." So, hearing is a physical thing, but listening is a cognitive response to what has been heard.

The results of poor listening can be many and varied, but chief amongst these are:

• Misunderstandings

• Lost opportunities in life, love, business and education, among others

• Wasted time

Characteristics of an effective listener

Effective listeners display many characteristics. They:

• Must be an active listener

• Evaluate speaker's words and feelings

• Put themselves in speaker's shoes

• Feedback what they think the speaker means

Effective listeners listen with their ears, eyes, head and heart!

Keys to effective listening

So, how can you be an effective listener? By applying the following seven points you can improve your listening skills in any situation:

1. Find areas of interest
2. Judge content, not delivery
3. Hold your comments till the end
4. Listen for ideas and themes
5. Concentrate on listening
6. Resist distractions
7. Keep your mind open

Author Fran Liebowitz said the opposite of talking is not listening, it is waiting. To be a truly effective listener, one must resist the impulse to begin formulating a response while the other person is talking. Instead, one should evaluate the other person&8217;s point, take a breath, and then respond in a way that adds to the discourse. Educational opportunities are also enhanced by active listening. The ability to understand the key ideas as presented in a lecture or other learning environment is as much the responsibility of the listener as it is the presenter. Understanding where the main point ends and where the supporting examples begin requires alert listening skills and minimizes confusion.

Hearing is automatic, listening requires work. To reach one's potential in learning, living, life and love, listening is an essential skill.