Guessing is not a strategy: How to build decision velocity with AI and real-time data
June 10, 2026 | Live Webinar
Say What?
Bob Weinstein is a journalist who covers technology, project management, the workplace and career development.
When you meet someone, do you have difficulty remembering his name, and part or even most of the conversation? No matter how hard you try, you can only pull up bits and pieces.
You’re not alone. Most people have trouble listening. Speaking is easy; listening is difficult. Yet it’s an essential skill, one worth honing--not only for your career, but for enjoying a rich and full life. We’ve lined up a few prominent experts to explain why we have trouble listening.
It’s difficult for us to listen because there is too much stimulation around us, according to Cherie Kerr, president of ExecuProv, a Santa Ana, Calif.-based communication training company. The culprit, she says, is technology--PDAs, cell phones, Blackberries and--most recently--the trendy iPhone.
A former actress, playwright, acting coach, and author of several books, Kerr uses improvisational comedy techniques to teach speaking and listening skills. “There is so much going on, it’s difficult to focus on an issue or idea,” says Kerr.
New York City-based psychotherapist Gilda Carle says that we have trouble listening because we hone in on body language 55 percent of the time, and on vocal intonation 38 percent of the time. That leaves only 7 percent to devote to what someone is saying. “We’re terrible listeners because we are …
Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.
ADVERTISEMENTS
|
"To you I'm an atheist; to God, I'm the Loyal Opposition." - Woody Allen |