Publisher’s Letter: Beyond Hearing
In conversations, many people hear what is being said
but do not listen. One is a process that involves the subconscious
perception of sound, whereas
the other involves an active form of
Too often when someone
introduces themselves, the overly rehearsed
structure of social introductions
keeps us from listening to what
the person is saying due to our own ingrained
expectations. We expect that,
as they introduce themselves, they
will say their name and ask for ours in return. Although
we hear their name being said, we too often forget to listen
to what the name is in anticipation of our own response,
and, as a result, we miss the name entirely.
Listening is focused and attentive yet is frequently dominated
by our own thoughts and assumptions. All too often
we filter out what is being said and substitute, in their
place, our personal considerations, biases, and presumptions.
As a result, we fill in the conversation with what we
already believe or think we know is being communicated.
In the process, we run the risk of setting up strainers or
sieves that ferret out the diversity of perspectives being
This type of behavior narrows our minds by limiting
our cognitive palette to one color to paint the world
with and we become impaired, unable to access the full
spectrum of color that represents the diversity of experiences
and perspectives of every individual.
Take a needle for instance: for a child a needle may be a curiosity, for
a parent a choking hazard, for a surgeon a tool, for a patient
a potentially life-saving object, for an artist a way to
create, and for a seamstress a way to mend. From objects
and events to ideas and concepts, everyone sees things differently
based on their unique experiences of the world,
which not one person ever to exist can duplicate.
If we engage in listening, we afford ourselves the opportunity
to build bridges to new thinking and climb heights
to different viewpoints instead of at sea level stranded on
an island of our own making. By opening the passageways,
we can learn more than we ever thought possible
from each other. The world is full of endless possibilities
and perspectives— all we have to do is listen.