What are the strategies to overcome internal barriers to listening?

== == The first step is to be aware that these barriers exist. Internal barriers can be in the form of assuming what we are saying is being interpreted the same way by the listener and vice-versa. Or perhaps its adding our own meanings from cultural and personal experiences to things we are observing. It takes a conscious decision to keep these barriers from affecting what we do. One way this can be done is by asking clarifying questions to confirm the information before coming to conclusions.