Listening is an important role in any situation; we must be sure to not come up with our own __________ or __________?

Listening effectively requires us to remain open-minded and avoid allowing our preconceptions to influence our understanding of what is being communicated. When we come up with our own conclusions or assumptions during a conversation, we risk misinterpreting the information being shared. This can lead to misunderstandings and problems in communication, especially in sensitive situations that law enforcement officers often encounter.

By focusing on conclusions and assumptions, we highlight two critical barriers to effective listening: the tendency to jump to final judgments before fully comprehending the speaker's message and the inclination to infer meanings based on personal biases rather than the context of the conversation. Meeting the needs of effective communication, particularly in law enforcement, revolves around truly understanding the information provided, which requires us to listen without imposing our own narrative.