How often have you been distracted during a conversation and ended up saying, "Come again?" If this is a frequent scenario, it only means you are a passive listener. Ironically, studies indicate we spend 45% of our daily lives listening (as opposed to just 9% writing, 16% reading, 30% talking), and yet most of it is distracted hearing. Communication gurus might sell you the idea of getting your point across to get ahead, but experts say, not so fast.

"Though, we are taught to read and write in school, no one teaches us how to listen. In customer relations and the media, for instance, it is crucial to listen if you want to avoid miscommunication," says corporate trainer Anita Shantaram. A lack of effective listening can lead to errors while performing a task, encouraging employers to overlook you while distributing work the next time around. "Careless listening can lead to filtering out important facts and a fall in productivity," Shantaram believes.

And it's not just lower-rung employees who should be listening. Once you are in a senior position, keen listening helps you read between the lines. "Most people sell ideas to the powerful, but not all that's said can be taken at face value."

Pravin D Shah, MD and Founder, Six Inches Communication, says as a team leader, he has no choice but to actively listen. "Listening makes you seem approachable to clients and helps nurture professional bonds. Unless you listen to what the client wants, how will you deliver?" Shah asks.