Effective Listening in the Workforce Discussion board thread: How can I reply to this students discussion with a scholarly citation? "The key to a healthy relationship whether it be a professional or personal relationship is communication and listening. While it is easy to communicate with one another, a lot of individuals struggle when it comes to listening. Some of the many purposes of listening are: "interacting socially, receiving information, solving problems, sharing feelings with others, and showing interest and resolving conflict" (Lehman, DuFrene, Walker, p.29). Bad listening habits are more common than not and a lot of times are unintentional but there are ways to avoid being a bad listener. Listening is one of the most important parts of communication. According to the textbook, "in the corporate world, managers may devote 60 percent of their workday to listening to others" (Lehman, DuFrene, Walker, p.28). In order to avoid bad listening habits, it is important to remove distractions from your environment. Due to the easy access to cellphones and technology, it is more challenging than ever to put the electronics down and be a good listener. (p.28) According to the textbook, there are more than two dozen different types of listening. For example, "casual listening is listening intended for pleasure, recreation, amusement, and relaxation" (Lehman, DuFrene, Walker, p.29). There is also listening for information, intensive listening, active listening, and empathetic listening. In order to be an effective listener, it is important to decide which form of listening is necessary for the proper environment. There are many benefits to being an effective listener. For example, "effective listening leads to sensitivity and tolerance toward key individuals who are critical to the organization's success, such as employees, customers, and suppliers" (Lehman, DuFrene, Walker, p.29). Not only is it important for those around you to be a good listener but it will help you in the long run with your own success