How often do you find yourself nodding along in a conversation while your mind races through your to-do list or your phone buzzes nearby? You are not alone. According to Dr Munita Dunn-Coetzee, Director of the Health and Wellness Centre at the UFS, staying truly present in a conversation has become a real challenge.
“I think we can all agree on 2025 being a year like no other. There have been major global and national events, as well as several altering decisions made in higher education. Perhaps you have experienced significant challenges in your personal journey – loneliness, financial difficulties, personal loss, or illness,” she reflects.
From hearing to understanding
“When one must navigate so many things to remain afloat in life, the question can be posed whether we still connect with others, with our community, with our people? Does it not become a linear focus on survival?”
We live in a noisy world, overflowing with emails, voice notes, WhatsApp groups, and endless scrolling. “We live in a world that overcommunicates – social media (TikTok, Telegram, Instagram), emails, more important emails, phone calls, WhatsApp messages, WhatsApp groups, and for some of us, texts and Facebook. I want to applaud you if you are keeping up with half of these messages!” she comments.
But all that noise takes its toll. Dr Dunn-Coetzee says research shows that information overload strains our relationships and weakens our ability to connect meaningfully. “Employees do not have the energy to engage, listen, and connect. Employees are hearing one another, not listening,” she explains.
So, what is the difference? “Listening is one step ahead of hearing,” she says. “Listening is difficult because it takes energy, whereas hearing is merely an involuntary response to sound.” As leadership expert Simon Sinek puts it, “Hearing is listening to what's said. Listening is hearing what isn't said.”
Active listening, says Dr Dunn-Coetzee, is a skill worth practising. “When you listen actively, you give the speaker your complete, undivided attention to truly understand their message. You also ask clarifying questions … and very important, you put your cellphone far away when you are actively listening.”
How listening can change everything
Beyond improving communication, active listening helps rebuild trust and is a valuable tool to rebuild work relationships. “Perhaps your team at work is going through a rough patch and not communicating well? Try active listening … team members feel valued and understood,” she says.
She ends with a reminder: “The ability to understand, connect with, and respond to others is becoming a key differentiator in the workplace. Start today by reflecting on how well you listen in your daily interactions. Developing these skills now will not only improve your relationships but also position you for success in the future of work.”