* MIND READER. You'll hear little or nothing, as you think, "What is this person really thinking or feeling?"

* REHEARSER. Your mental tryouts for "Here's what I'll say next" tune out the speaker.

* FILTERER. Some call this selective listening -- hearing only what you want to hear.

* DREAMER. Drifting off during a face to face conversation can lead to an embarrassing "What did you say?" or "Could you repeat that?"

* IDENTIFIER. If you refer everything you hear to your experience, you probably didn't really hear what was said.

* COMPARER. When you get sidetracked assessing the messenger, you're sure to miss the message.

* DERAILER. Changing the subject too quickly soon tells others that you're not interested in anything they have to say.

* SPARRER. You hear what's said, but quickly belittle it or discount it. That puts you in the same class as the derailer.

* PLACATER. Agreeing with everything you hear, just to be nice or to avoid conflict, does not mean you're a good listener.

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From Toastmaster Magazine, July 1999. Toastmasters International reprinted this with permission from Communication Briefings, Vol. 18 No. 2 Source: The Writing Lab, Department of English, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Proverbs 18:13 He who answers before listening — that is his folly and his shame.

<>< your ADD brother in the risen christ,
Lester Hemphill
Founder of ADDoration Ministries