Sometimes important issues feelings or values that need to be discussed are uncovered. One cannot expect family members to bring heavy matters to you if you are not interested in less critical areas of their lives. Plan a certain time of each day for the entire family to be together to talk. The average person spends 45 percent of his waking hours listening to someone. Selective listening causes us to miss out on an opportunity to strengthen relationships.
People listen about five to ten times as fast as they speak.
So, while you are talking, the other person is listening with only a fraction of the capacity for attention. Some of the strongest relationship building is done through listening. Not because the person tells you anything, but because they listen. Interruptions are only to ask a question of clarification. Listening strengthens the relationship between folks by conveying messages of caring and respect.