Are you listening? I mean really listening to what I have to say. Not in the context of this blog, because that’s reading, but are you hearing me?
The ability to listen is so key, active listening can lead to greater understanding, inciteful questions and more meaningful interactions with people. With more and more of our daily interactions being through the written word (e-mail), the skill to actively listen is one that can easily go by the wayside.
Often, we are so busy trying to get our words out in response to someone, we don’t really hear them. We don’t catch those nuggets of gold, which may lead to the next killer question or ultimately a sale or a great outcome. Listening increases understanding. On sales training courses, you’re often taught to use the ratio of two ears and one mouth. It’s amazing how we love the sound of our own voice, how we want to be considered authoriative in our chosen fields, how we want to be liked. Here’s a tip, talking isn’t the answer. Listening and questioning is.
