Listening Skills, Does Anybody Have Them Anymore?

[moralem]

Apparently, it's easier to ask someone to repeat what they said rather than listen the first time.

How the heck do I know what I said the first time..... I can't even remember what I went into the other room for.

 

[cmort666]

I swear all 911 call takers these days are trained to read back what you told them incorrectly to check if you got it right the first time. It's that or they weren't listening the first time, pick your poison.

I had one Kelly Bundy clone respond to, "There's a man passed out and unresponsive in the gutter in front of <insert name> bar on Detroit Ave." with, "He's in the gutter? He's on the roof?"

At what point does, "doesn't listen" shade into "dumber than a bag of hammers"?

 

[Jst1mr]

F-O-C-U-S is strictly discouraged...if you're only doing one thing, you are wasting time. Praise is heaped on the "multi-tasker", though nobody bothers to check on the quality of what is getting done. it has become acceptable to do half of a job. That is why your car now stays in the lane for you, maintains its distance from the car ahead, and stops if it has to on its own - people shouldn't be expected to focus on driving when there is so much other work that can be done.

 

[the ringo kid]

Today I was going to place an order with a business ive bought from for about 14 years. The call-taker was from costa rica-couldnt get my 5 letter last name correct the 10th time out. I ended the call by saying if they cant hire a call-taker who even understands basic English well enough, im doing business elsewhere. Before I get jumped for my decision--I spelled it out each time but he kept adding or changing letters. Really, my last name aint hard to spell or pronounce--I swear it.

 

[Salty RI]

How the heck do I know what I said the first time..... I can't even remember what I went into the other room for.

To get your hearing aid.

 

[dswancutt]

Why is it that I remember as a kid, the rare times we went out for dinner, the waitress would repeat the order back to us. Something in this post triggered that.

 

[soFlaNative]

couldnt get my 5 letter last name correct the 10th time out

Sagan?
Lewis?
Zeiss?

 

[Inusuit]

Based on what I see on internet forums, reading comprehension has gone away as well.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Having to do the same thing three times is so frustrating!

People that either don't care or are on a script that does not allow them to comply need to be culled from the work force!

I make my living by listening. When a customer calls with a vague generality I ask questions that focus them into direct answers.

When they refuse to answer directly, I flat out tell them - that's very interesting but it is not what I asked and offers no help in finding a solution.

They are shocked that someone verbally grabs their lapels and shakes.

Simple projects railroaded due to negligence and then the best part... no accountability!

People need to be reintroduced to reward for accomplishment and penalty for failure.

 

[snubbyfan]

Sorry, I was reading your post and all I could focus on was the food descriptions.
I've been on a diet and I'm hungry.

 

[DeathGrip]

I had one Kelly Bundy clone respond to, "There's a man passed out and unresponsive in the gutter in front of <insert name> bar on Detroit Ave." with, "He's in the gutter? He's on the roof?"

At what point does, "doesn't listen" shade into "dumber than a bag of hammers"?

How'd he get up there?

 

[ContinentalOp]

Yes, I know what you mean. I also love cookies 'n' cream ice cream.

 

[M29since14]

Follow-on rant (not worth a thread of its own, but I had to add):

I consider myself a pretty good listener but don't hear well, particular on my right side. So when I (politely) mention that and ask the young lady at the counter if she could please speak up a little invariably she will repeat whatever she said at precisely the same volume and then seem annoyed with me because I did not hear her any better!

The young fellows behind the counter don't seem to be much better, either.

Back to the original topic, I agree 100% with Snapping Twig's assessment.

 

[klondike]

When I owned my restaurant, I had to give direction to many kids who were deficient in said skills. I got in the habit after directions were given to ask them to repeat what they heard. I was at first shocked at how they had not listened at all. Usually after I did this to them once or twice they were able to get it right. It is a skill that is certainly undeveloped.
My favorite incidence of poor communication was not actually the fault of the listener. I had heard my Philippino chef screaming at someone in the kitchen and I went to investigate, finding him about to totally lose his temper at a new employee who was quaking in fear. I asked the problem and saw a tray of bacon in the garbage. The chef said that he had told the new help to"take the bacon out of the oven, drain the fat off and throw it away." I had to laugh at that one because the fault was the chef's. He too got in the habit of making sure that his instructions were clearly understood.

 

[rxbrew]

Listening is a lost art

I always tell my sales people that a short pencil is better than a long memory. If you truly listen to your customers they will tell you what they want to buy.

 

[Texas Star]

Sagan?
Lewis?
Zeiss?

An astronomer, a light machinegun, and an optical company.
Hmmm...Leica is also a five-letter word and an optics firm. So is Swift.


Jones? Smith?


There was a South African Prime Minister named Jan Smuts.


Lots of five-letter names.


I have indeed met some people who have cultural or attention problems that cause them to misspell my name, because they haven't heard it and it sounds like a similar name, which is more common.


Most today really don't think, or are just stupid.

 

[soFlaNative]

An astronomer, a light machinegun, and an optical company.
Hmmm...Leica is also a five-letter word and an optics firm. So is Swift.


Jones? Smith?


There was a South African Prime Minister named Jan Smuts.


Lots of five-letter names.


I have indeed met some people who have cultural or attention problems that cause them to misspell my name, because they haven't heard it and it sounds like a similar name, which is more common.


Most today really don't think, or are just stupid.

Carl Lewis, 5 time Olympiad.
All are 5 letter last names of famous Carls.
Was thinking Ringo was part of the group in his own right.
Can't thank you enough for the illustration...

 

[DeathGrip]

Carl Lewis, 5 time Olympiad.
All are 5 letter last names of famous Carls.
Was thinking Ringo was part of the group in his own right.
Can't thank you enough for the illustration...

and here I thunk this thread was about listening not spelling.

 

[soFlaNative]

and here I thunk this thread was about listening not spelling.

Even the smart ones miss the occasional hole...

 

[TX-Dennis]

Haha . . .reminds me of an experience at Chick Fil A a few days ago. The kid asked for my name. I said, "Dennis." She said, "Kevin?" I said, "no, Dennis." "Okay, Kevin, what would you like today?"

Rather than argue with her about my name which I have had for well over half a century I just became Kevin for the duration of the transaction. I have to wonder, though, if she noticed the name on my debit card.