Therefore, listening is a very important communicative skill. If not, perhaps acting on the information imparted in this chapter will improve your listening skills to above the average in listening efficiency. Tests have shown that we can significantly raise the level of our listening performance by a small amount of study and practice. The importance of the listening skill to managers has been recognized by industrial firms for some time. There is no system that will do the job in an easier manner. . . .
Nothing can equal an executive's willingness to listen.
Recognizing the value of effective listening, many companies offer training programs to improve this communicative skill. Some years ago the Methods Engineering Council compared one group of participants in a preliminary discussion on efficiency in listening with a second group not participating in such a discussion. The comparison was made by testing each group. The test results showed the marks made by the first group were 15 percent higher - a significant improvement. When we don't remember what we have heard, it is probably because we did not listen.