what are your thoughts on the answers below about Effective listeners

1.What are the primary causes of your listening challenges?

The primary causes of my listening challenges are that I like to listen just for facts. I like a speech that is short, direct and to the point. When a speech or presentation is long and drawn out, I get bored and start thinking about other things that require my attention.

2. What can you do to be a more empathetic listener?

I think that for me to be a more empathetic listener, instead of waiting for the bottom line to be presented and thinking of other things, I could try to clear my mind and focus fully on what the speaker is saying and try to reflect on the feelings of the speaker.

3. A more attentive listener?

I consider myself an attentive listener, especially when the conversation is interactive and requires concentration and exchange of verbage. I work 2 jobs in the medical profession and I also run a travel agency. Attentive listening is vital to all my positions and I always repeat back what is said so that there is not mistake that I am listening. My patient's and my client's all know that when they are speaking with me, they have my utmost attention and I am paying close attention to the nonverbal communications as well. In both my fields, nonverbal communication sometimes says a lot more than verbal.

4. A better active listener?

I do not know how I could be a better active listener. I have taken class after class on active listening, I have taken classes on body language and I have practiced active listening since my daughter was born. I use active listening everyday in my daily job and routines with people that I interact with. I find that repeating or paraphrasing back what someone has said lets them know that you heard them, value what they say and that what they said matters.