We all want to be listened to, but we don’t all want to listen. This is a human trait known as hypocrisy, you’ve likely heard of it before.

With the constantly increasing demand for clear communicators learning how to stop passively listening and start actively listening is an invaluable skill.

If you know how to listen you know how to empathize and understand.

But how often are we guilty of passively listening?

Giving partial attention to whomever we are communicating with, which often leads to us asking them to repeat themselves.

Unnecessary repetition leads the person who was talking to feel disrespected and like they aren’t being listened to.

Passive listening is mechanical and effortless. If you are conscious and your ears are in working order you can passively listen.

Passive listening is not evaluating or giving thought to what others have to say.

Passive listening is selfish, prioritizing your thoughts above all else.

Passive listening is when you have a permanent predisposition that, regardless of what the person says, you are committed to never changing.

Passive listening is listening without action.

Passive listening is disengenuine communication.

If you don’t like repeating yourself, and generally enjoy having your thoughts being listened to you should build your active listening skills. Afterall, the golden rule to treat others in the same way you would want to be treated applies to communication as well.

Passive listening is not an issue of dispensing information but rather of digesting it. Humans are much better at talking than listening. But with conscious effort, you can change that.