Imagine an alien appears before you. This alien says that it will reveal the secret of how the universe works. It says that E=mc2 is wrong. It then proceeds to tell you a set of seven mind-boggling equations that explain how everything works, including quantum mechanics.
Now, if I were the one listening, I would be completely lost. I do not have a background in physics. That alien is wasting its time talking to me.
See how important listening is? Listening is not just about hearing sounds and words.
Listening is about having the intellectual capability to understand meaning, the framework to interpret concepts, and the background knowledge to critically evaluate what is being said.
Wow!
That’s a lot for a language skill that most people do not even think about.
Everyone wants to speak eloquently. Everyone wants to write effectively. But, to listen well?
‘My New Year resolution is to become a really good listener.’ Have you ever heard anyone say that? I haven’t….
In the classroom, active listening helps students. It means that they are paying attention. They are present. Here and now. Their minds are engaging with the subject. Even if some students don’t understand everything, that’s okay. The act of trying to understand will support their learning. When they revise their notes, they’ll be in a better position to understand.
If you are in the workplace, you must listen. Listening is a core leadership skill. It shows that you care. Employees often say, what’s the point in giving feedback? Management just doesn’t listen.
When I conducted corporate training sessions, I soon realised that the quality of listening was a key factor in determining how impactful the sessions were going to be.
Did the managers listen to what employees had to say about the kind of training that was needed? Did the managers even ask?
Did the employees listen to the management about the need for a certain type of training? Did the managers give reasons why the training was important?
Did the training company truly listen to what the client wanted? Or did the training company just superficially listen and present the standard material?
Listening is a two-way street. Or in this case, a three-way street.
And yes, speaking and listening are interdependent, each supporting the other. When both are done effectively, we have a meaningful conversation. Things get done.
When listening, do so without preconceived notions. If you listen with prejudice, you are not really listening. At best, you are partially listening. And you are making conclusions that may not be valid.
Think about a time when a project did not go according to plan. Would better listening have helped? Most probably, yes.
Listening gives you deep insight into the shifting landscape that your business operates in. What worked three years ago may not work now. Are you aware of changing customer expectations? Are you aware of the latest technical developments in your field? How about the competition? Are you listening to what people are saying about them?
Are you in an echo chamber?
Are you only listening to people just like you? If so, then you may be in for a rude shock. If not today, then tomorrow.
Only the paranoid survive.
This is a quote from Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel. If you agree with that statement, you’ll also agree that the paranoid need to have exceptional listening skills.
Listen to other people. The person could be a grizzled industry veteran with twenty-five years of experience. Or a nervous intern on her first day in the job. Listen 360 degrees.
Listen to yourself.
When you truly listen to yourself, you’ll begin to doubt yourself. (Fear not: this is a good thing.)
Are you ignoring an important piece of the puzzle? Are you missing the big picture? Only the paranoid survive.
After you finish reading this post, someone will say something to you. It may be important. It may not be. Whatever it is, be an active listener.
Notice how it feels.
You’re welcome.
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
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