Today I wish to dispel another communication myth.  Most equate communication skills with speaking or writing.  While the first rule of communication states that it is the speaker's job to be understood and not the listener's job to understand, there is another significant part to effective communication.  Listening!

Listening is also a communication skill-and a significant one at that.  It's one that most speech and debate studies never address. Good speaking and writing skills are essential to the communication process, but they are not all communication is.  Good listening skills are vital.  Why?  Because it takes two in order to communicate.   Even if the speaker does an outstanding job of communicating, the listener can misinterpret the communication by not paying close attention.  If the reader is just skimming a note, he may miss some vital information.  If the listener gets lost in thought for a few seconds during a conversation, she may never hear an important detail. 

Did you ever read about a department store sale and miss the fact that it was "One Day Only"?  Did you ever read a friend's email and not notice that he wanted the RSVP before week's end?  Did you ever space out in a conversation and find that when you "came to" you had totally missed the point? 

Active listening involves attention to detail, giving the speaker or writer your undivided attention and sometimes asking questions for clarification.