ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Environmental factors such as noise, temperature and uncomfortable seating can cause us to focus our attention on other factors beside what the speaker is saying. Try to control environment factors whenever possible. Try adjusting the thermostat, finding another seat, or moving to a quiet place to continue the conversation. It is hard to focus attention when we are constantly distracted by outside forces.
7. SHORT ATTENTION SPAN As we receive a message, we must attend to it or we will lose it. Some people have trouble remembering points to discuss when the speaker is talking. Try taking notes as the speaker talks, or use a cue to help you remember what you were going to say. If you find your attention wondering, concentrate on what the speaker is saying, and reherse how you will answer, or what you are going to say to keep in your mind on the task at hand. Ask questions to clarify and to become involved in the conversation. Concentration helps you receive accurate information and indicates that you are interested in what speaker is saying.
8. Dont be like this!!!
9. REHEARSING A RESPONSE Many times we catch the drift of what the speaker is saying and we begin to reherse a response, thereby missing parts of the message. Other times we may be anticipating our turn to speak and will spend time mentally or physically reviewing notes and will miss what the speaker has said.
10. DAYDREAMING We are capable of receiving and processing information more rapidly than a speaker can deliver it. This causes us to have spare time to think or daydream, and if we don’t concentrate on the message being delivered, we will find ourselves drifting or daydreaming.
11. HOT WORDS We all have certain words that we react to. Sometimes when a speaker uses a hot word in his or her message we will concentrate more on the meaning or the word, or its implications for us. Consequently, we tend to lose sight of what is being said by the speaker.