The Skill That Will Increase Your Profits and Your Chances of Landing a Job

Minimizing overhead and making a profit is what business is all about. This delivers the need for workers and business owners who listen well. 

Studies suggest the private sector loses millions of dollars a year due to poor listening skills. One study suggests that over 60% of errors made in business can be attributed to poor listening (Cooper, 1997).

Lynn Oshnock, who owned a successful coffee shop and works in the private sector believes that if workers listen effectively, businesses would save a substantial amount of money.

"I whole hardheartedly agree with that," Oshnock says. "I believe communication should be thought-out and communicated with the voice of humanity, not the voice of a computer. If businesses took that approach, I think they would find the third quarter’s earnings triple or quadruple from the second quarters earnings."

Oshnock also says that our skills to comprehend and skills to listen to the message are much different from 'hearing the message'. She says the key is to listen and absorb the message to carry out tasks successfully.

Eighty percent of Executives rated rated listening as the most vital skill for accomplishing task (Salopek, 1999).

John Stewart who taught interpersonal communication for over thirty years at the University of Washington writes in his book Bridges Not Walls: A desire to listen involves a curiosity for new information and a willingness to pay more respect to your speaker. 

Stewart also says, "Concentration is the key to performing any meaningful activity well." 

The number one skill employers look for in workers is communication skills (Job Outlook, 2009). Listening is a pillar of communication and will enhance the likelihood of landing a dream job.

Business Listening Activities

Listening in a Business Organization