Are you a better talker or a better listener...which is the more valuable 'talent'? Include links from social science or other sources?

This is a left hand right hand kind of question. Which hand is better? I guess it would be the hand you need at the moment.

Both speaking (talking) and listening (understanding) are skills that you learn and hone as an individual and as a culture. The best and most beautiful example of needing and using both of these skills is the Australian Aboriginal culture. These tribes have been living on the Australian continent for about 50,000 years.

There is no written language for these tribes, so to pass down their history, stories and songs, they needed both of these communication tools. Even with multiple tribes having different dialects, they would meet at special places of spiritual interest and pass down each others stories. As a human race, we must value both of these gifts if we are to continue on.

That's how I see it in the big picture in my head. If I am to look at our society now, I'd say that we are embracing the speaker at the moment. All you have to do is look at who is currently in office in the US for that answer.

Asking me personally? I know that I have a vivid imagination when it comes to telling stories and tales, and I do have sharp timing at telling a good joke. But all in all, I listen the best.

If I'm not sure of the point, I always try to clarify. My friends and family love me for that.

Dr Laura says people like you more when you listen to them talk about themselves, than when you talk about yourself. I agree with her!

I"m listening to your question, and considering it carefully, then answering it with care. €œA good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something. €?

-- Wilson Mizner The best quality of the two choices, listening or talking, is listening. Everyone appreciates the opportunity to talk about their own concerns, ideas, wishes, dreams, thoughts, and worries. When one is talking to another, they appreciate being respected so that they are able to be open and clear with the other person.

€œA good listener truly wants to know the speaker. €? -- John Powell The good listener, or active listener takes responsibility for what is being said to her or him.

The responsibility is to listen with empathy and without judgement. The speaker generally doesn't really want your opinion unless they actually ask for it, but needs a caring and discrete sounding board person. The act of speaking to someone often helps the speaker to clarify ideas and to reach a conclusion, without any real action on your part.

Interrupting (or talking to) someone who is talking to you is rude and disrespectful. To do so simply says to the speaker that you don't care about what they are saying, and that what you have to say is much more important in the conversation. Who wants to talk to someone like that?

You may have a point to make or want to illustrate what the speaker is saying or to show your agreement, but silence is a better acknowledgement, allowing the other person to speak their fill. If you agree that listening is a strong skill that will benefit you and the people around you, and you practice actively listening to someone, then you will be rewarded with the face of a person who is happy to have chosen you to talk to, and who will trust you for your politeness, respect, and kindness.

Very good question Here is my answer part by part. I. As far as I am concerned, I am a better listener (I am a bit old fashioned and believe in old values).Ii.

Had it been a hundred years ago, listening good was given more credit and was considered a better virtue than talking good. But now the scenario has changed. In present context of globalization, multinational businesses and die-hard competition, being a better talker is certainly more important than being a better listener, because that is how one can influence others and can be better leaders, salesmen (In the greater context.

I don't mean door to door salesmen, although it is very important for them too), people in show-biz and crowd-pullers, advocates, advertisers etc. And these things are hot today. You can also make many friends if you are a good talker. This is very important if you want to date somebody.

However, better listeners can be better doctors, nurses, assistants, soldiers, judges, housewives or followers. It helps you in interviews too.Iii. Further, the better you talk, the better you can express yourself and that is what you need to connect to the world these days, with so many media of communication available today (phones, internet, radio etc. ).

And the better you connect, the better you can sell or earn and the better you earn, the better you live. This is the age of expressions.Iv. Finally, I must say that it is better to be a good talker these days.

The related links/sources are given below in the "What's your source" segment. Hope that's what you were looking for. Thanks.

I have found that I am definitely a better talker than listener and have to actually bite my tongue sometimes to be quiet until someone else is finished speaking. I do listen and enjoy discourse on a subject but when someone else is talking my mind process what they say and I feel the need to respond- right then! Maybe it is because I will forget my point I am not sure.As for which is more important I would have to say that it depends on the situation.

For example when a friends needs a shoulder to cry on, being a good listener is much more important, but if you need to sway an opinion or let someone know something being a good speaker is important. Many people tend to admire those who are great speakers, who communicate their ideas and passions to others and can make people feel with their words, but the people who are impassioned by what they hear are the ones who actually make the speakers influential.So being a good speaker isn't doing any good unless there is someone there to listen.

Well, both are valuable, because if someone's talking then someone needs to listen! Great storytellers are fascinating to listen to, and help pass on a culture's history and heritage. But some people talk without saying very much!

I've always been a better listener than a talker, but I love to pass on knowlege to others. I've been told I'm a "know-it-all". That doesn't particularly offend me, but maybe sometimes I tell people more than they really want to know!

It can be an annoying trait, so I try to keep it under control. Your question reminds me of a plaque that hung in my grandma's house, a picture of an owl with this verse: A wise old owl sat on an oak. The more he saw the less he spoke.

The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why aren't we like that wise old bird? flickr.com/photos/jedavidson/4094999085.

Both talents are important for society, and each has its place. Great talking skills are necessary for: - Leaders (political, religious, social, business) - Story-tellers (obviously) - Sales and marketing people - Trial attorneys Great listening skills are necessary for: - Therapists and doctors - Leaders (same list as above, so they know what their constituents want) - Top staff of leaders - Judges - Best friends However, saying that listening skills are important for a profession does not mean that talking skills are unimportant for those people, and vice versa. It is a question of balance.

If all you know to do is listen, you may be a very comforting person to be around, but you will not tend to get great things done. If you're a wonderful orator but don't know how to listen, you may become a great leader for a time, but will likely come to a bad end as you fail to heed warnings from people near you (or worse yet, discourage them from telling you what you need to hear). The most effective people are those who combine both skills in one package.

One contemporary example is President Barack Obama. He knew how to listen to what the American public wanted, and then knew how to talk to that public. Whether you agree with his policies or not, few would deny he's been very effective as both a speaker and a listener.

I'm going to say it: -i do talk a lot to people. ================================================== As I have to discover later on in life is that as husband you got your point As friend you should your point across As employee you got to say carefully what's your opinion about company,policies,colleagues etc. Love to say the right thing. Now you see many can't understand why they do talk a lot and, just not shout up... Now I tend to be a listener.

Many companies employ people that follow and listen the orders. I do hope you got a good answer,thx.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.