When I was leaving for university, my mom was very diligent on one thing for me to do. If not able to read, she encouraged me, to listen to a small holy scripture every day before going to bed or first thing in the morning. She said that listening has a much greater influence than reading and gave me a CD of the scripture. Her advice on listening than reading created a curiosity in me which was soon forgotten as I was settling in my hostel life, away from home, making new friends and experiencing survival skills firsthand.
Fast forward 20 years, my curiosity on listening over reading was ignited by a research assignment in my psychology course. We researched on hiring likelihood of job seekers if the employer reads the profile or hears the profile. I was amazed to find that the vocal pitch, tone and language fluency is seen to demonstrate ones thinking capacity, emotions, intelligence and confidence; which plays an extremely important part in ones hiring likelihood. Reading the profile starts with a disadvantageous position as neither the vocal pitch or language fluency are available. Also (another Aha moment), the brain uses more resources when listening compared to when reading. I was on the verge of conviction with what the research suggests but I wanted to test it on myself. I started testing by alternating listening and reading to McKinsey podcasts but lacked the quantification of my hypothesis. Then remembered giving IELTs 5 years ago which has Listening, and Reading sections separately assessed and thought why not see how I faired in those sections. Startled again to find that I scored 0.5 marks higher in Listening i.e. 9 in Listening and 8.5 in Reading. Mere coincidence or a proof of what my mom told me 20 years ago. I surely will be listening to more podcasts than reading them.
What did your mom say when you were leaving for Uni?
