It’s annoying when your coworkers or audience members, teenagers, as well as your pet (!) won’t listen. Although you cannot determine how people will react to what you’ve said, however, you can influence the way you convey the message. Here are some suggestions on the reasons people don’t pay attention and how you can alter it.
1. Attention spans are short
If asked to estimate the average adult attention span, the majority of people will say it’s around 30 minutes. According to research, however, the average attention span is only seven seconds. That’s right! Every seven seconds, you’re to a different place. You are thinking about something different. Actually, you might be taking a mental break at the moment! It’s part of the way that our brains integrate external stimuli, such as when your computer begins defragging for a short time when you compose. It can help to pause at intervals while you talk. This helps people integrate your message or ask clarifying questions. Include examples to illustrate your concepts. For instance, (see–I’m doing it right now! ) Concepts without an example can be compared to the roots of a tree or a home without foundation, as well as Sonny Cher without Cher. It doesn’t have the same enduring power.
2. Too Many Distractions
I was in a gathering this past week, and five people coughed. Four people sat down and talked. Three cell phones were ringing, two persons went to the bathroom, and a partridge was able to send an email using his PDA. Distractions are a major element of our modern lives. The best strategy is to recognize the interruptions in a fun way, like a manager who recently conducted the meeting I attended. When his cell phone rang, the manager reached it and then said, “Oh I’m sorry, ….my mother loves to check in with me occasionally”. This prompted everyone to switch their phones off.
3. The lack of training
We’re not all trained to listen. If you took Reading 8 and Writing 11 or 11, did you take Listening 10? It’s no wonder that listening can be difficult. In a rather accidental way, I was able to learn how to listen by meditating. After a retreat lasting five days, I was euphoric and decided to visit my elderly father, who was hearing impaired. My routine was to sit in a trance for hours, listening to the complaints of his joint, the mistake on his bank account, and how difficult it was to find slippers that were comfortable. Following this retreat, I was surprised by paying total attention to him with patience and understanding. After about 10 minutes of complaining, he switched tracks and began telling me hilarious and interesting stories from his childhood. Then he turned on his hearing aid and inquired about me! Learn to be attentive to people, pay them your complete and complete attention, and be prepared for delightful surprises.
4. Language Barriers
It’s no secret that the business world is rapidly evolving into a multilingual world. While English is the primary commercial language, many individuals in your audience might have English as an additional language. In the last month, I spoke to an insurance company that was large, and many of the attendees turned out to be migrants from China. I was “getting dizzy with it” and saw people perusing their dictionaries. I was prompted to say, “I’m sorry, you went far beyond your comprehension”, and a lot of people looked to the sky! If your audience members do not have ESL or come from a basic education background, it is essential to make your speech more simple. Make use of more precise descriptions rather than language that is cultural. Utilize body and facial language to convey laughter and fewer words.
5. Unchecked Based on assumptions
In the 1970s, Gilda Radner was a stand-up comedian that was a regular performer during Saturday Night Live was well famous for her character Emily Litella, a social activist who had a hearing impairment. Her causes included such vital problems as the use of violins on TV as well as soviet-style jewellery and threatened Feces. It’s true these Emily Litella types can be present in your audience. For instance, I once shared a story of my mom, who worked as an administrator for the British Civil Service in WWII. She would spend the majority of her time dreaming about when her boss would come into the room to ask her to spy on the Germans. She could put the shady papers behind, put on disguises and become one of the future Mata Hari. It was a given that one day, her boss come in, but instead, he dismissed her for dreaming every day. A woman contacted me following this tale and informed me that she was a Hari Krishna, too. One method to dispel false beliefs is to explain your message in various ways.
6. There is no reason to listen.
The main reason why people don’t pay attention is that you’ve not answered the most frequently asked query: “What’s in it for me?” Before you begin your long monologue, explain to your audience the reason why you’re interested and ensure that they understand what it is that will benefit them. For instance, “I’d like to tell you about this free program which will stop all junk mail before it reaches the Inbox …interested?” This will provide you with a more effective result as compared to “When I was a child and I sat down the front of my computer for the first time, I thought to myself how I could get this machine to work for me. …” For general purposes, place yourself in the shoes of someone else’s before speaking, and listeners’ ears will be energized.
Remember the most important of all wisdom: no one has ever had the courage to listen to himself to a new acquaintance.