Communication research tells us that people tend to remember 20 percent of what they hear, 30 percent of what they see, 50 percent of what they hear and see, and 80 percent of what they hear, see, and do. These statistics are often referenced when encouraging speakers to integrate interactive exercises and processes into their presentations in order to engage listeners. As an audience member, either in a classroom or with a group of friends conversing, you know that you recall more about your listening experiences when the speaker appeals to more than just your sense of hearing.

How can you use this information to become a more active listener and remember more of what you hear? If seeing and doing reinforces what you are hearing, what about "seeing" and "doing" the information in your mind, in the form of visualization? Create visual images and associations to go along with the words you hear. Rather than letting your mind wander during a presentation or when reading, let your internal and external listening process include making mental pictures of what is being said.

Imagine that you need to remember the nations of the Allied forces during World War II. "See" yourself seated at a conference table and rising to greet the following people as they enter the room: a red-coated sentry from Buckingham Palace (Great Britain), a huge Canadian goose (Canada), an Oriental emperor with a porcelain plate for a head (China), and an artist with a black beret (France). After you all are seated, two more enter the room: a Cossack dancer (Russia) and Uncle Sam (United States). The last two are late because they did not join the Allies until 1941, two years after the war began. In this visualization, you are not only "seeing" the images, you are also "doing" the action, greeting each one personally. This kind of mental exercise engages your senses in the information, makes it more real, and thus makes it easier to remember.