Can you lend me your ear? Most people believe they are good listeners without considering the important differences between hearing and listening. The ability to hear is typically innate, but the ability to listen well is a skill that must be developed and practiced. Listening means paying attention and making a conscious effort to process what you hear. It is one of our most important skills and it is also one of the most overlooked. We often take our ability to listen for granted, even knowing that it plays a major role in good communication.

So are you the type of person who lets information in one ear and out the other, or are you a thoughtful, actively engaged listener? Examine the following statements and situations, and indicate how you would most likely respond. After completing the test, you will receive a detailed, personalized interpretation of your score that includes graphs, information on the test topic, and advice.