Everyone can benefit from being a better listener…your 4 steps are great. I might add to hear better these days you have to be more like a “scout” … proactively looking for people and insight that helps carve a new path.
I completely agree that everyone “can” be a better listener, but learning how to do that isn’t all that easy. It takes concentration, deeply listening to what is being said and not just preparing for a response. I wish there were ways to teach listening, as practice opportunities are widely available. I just don’t see many examples of people doing effective listening, I must say. It’s not easy!
It starts with a desire, a desire to want to listen to want to understand not just prove your point. It’s A very critical and noticeable skill a good listener is a great leader if they utilize their talent properly
Yes, I fully agree the desire has to be there, and my point is that listening is a skill, and a challenging one at that. Slowing the mind down to give attention to the person talking is just not easy. The mindfulness it takes to really hear what another is saying while the mind is chattering and forming a response before the words are out of the other's mouth makes listening actual work.
I'm not saying I do this any better than any other person. I certainly am aware of how difficult it can be, and also very aware of when it does work how powerful a tool it is for both parties. Thanks for engaging in this discussion--dare I say thanks for listening!
Everyone can benefit from being a better listener…your 4 steps are great. I might add to hear better these days you have to be more like a “scout” … proactively looking for people and insight that helps carve a new path.
I completely agree that everyone “can” be a better listener, but learning how to do that isn’t all that easy. It takes concentration, deeply listening to what is being said and not just preparing for a response. I wish there were ways to teach listening, as practice opportunities are widely available. I just don’t see many examples of people doing effective listening, I must say. It’s not easy!
It starts with a desire, a desire to want to listen to want to understand not just prove your point. It’s A very critical and noticeable skill a good listener is a great leader if they utilize their talent properly
Yes, I fully agree the desire has to be there, and my point is that listening is a skill, and a challenging one at that. Slowing the mind down to give attention to the person talking is just not easy. The mindfulness it takes to really hear what another is saying while the mind is chattering and forming a response before the words are out of the other's mouth makes listening actual work.
I'm not saying I do this any better than any other person. I certainly am aware of how difficult it can be, and also very aware of when it does work how powerful a tool it is for both parties. Thanks for engaging in this discussion--dare I say thanks for listening!