Date Night: BENEFITS OF EFFECTIVE LISTENING

BENEFITS OF EFFECTIVE LISTENING

  1. Gain knowledge. Each spouse can learn new information about thoughts, beliefs, feelings, needs, hopes and dreams. In reality, you will probably find out much more than you expected.
  2. Strengthens trust and respect. Genuine listening generates respect, rapport and trust between the talker and listener.
  3. Solves problems and resolves conflict. Only after understanding your spouse can you agree or disagree, and then work cooperatively to clarify thinking, seek solutions, and resolve conflict.
  4. Reduces tension. It gives your spouse a chance to "get it off his chest," to "clear the air," or "let off a little steam."
  5. Helps to prevent trouble. If people can learn to listen before speaking, before sticking their neck out, before taking untenable and unreasonable positions, or making commitments that can't be kept, they will likely avoid many unfortunate experiences.
  6. Promotes cooler heads. Focusing on listening helps both the speaker and the listener stay cool—and helps them cool down—when dealing with a crisis or discussing an emotionally charged topic.
  7. Increases accuracy. Better listening leads to better recollection of important facts and issues later on, resulting in fewer miscommunications and fewer mistakes.
  8. Mends relationships. Listening has a chance of healing hurts and building bridges in a marriage.
  9. Strengthens the marital relationship. Marriages are created, maintained, and enriched through effective communication.