7 Factors that Prevent Careful Listening and 4 Parts to Listening Attentively. I’m sure you have been in a situation, most everyone has, where you really didn’t hear what was being said. A classic example is when you meet someone for the first time, that person tells you their name, and then a couple of minutes later you’re asking yourself, “what was their name again?” In another situation perhaps you have gone to a meeting or someone has given you instructions or directions, only to find yourself a few minutes later asking, “I’m sorry, what was it you just said?” What has happened is that you weren’t focus or really paying attention to what was said. It happens to everyone. Most people engage in what I call ‘selective listening’ meaning we only hear what we want to hear. The term, selective listening, actually has two meanings. In one case you only hear enough to acknowledge what is being said but without really paying attention. In another way you attentively listen because you feel the communication is important. That’s the difference; you use your own judgment to determine what is important to you and what is not. This is a FREE PDF article that can be read on any computer. Reply with the e-mail address you would like the article sent to and it will be on the way in 24 hours and there’s absolutely no obligation.