On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being atrocious and indifferent and with 10 being world class, how would you rate yourself as an effective listener? If I asked your spouse or significant other, what number rating would that person give you? What if I asked your direct reports or your boss? Based on my experience, I’m willing to wager that others who know you well would rate you two or three numbers lower than you do, If you don’t believe me, run your own survey. Or, if everyone can agree that you could potentially rate a “5” or lower, keep reading.
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”
And, I will caution all of you pitchers out there. You’re not nearly as good as you think you are if you’re not listening actively and empathetically.
Being a Great Listener is:
A: A developed skill
B: A mindset and a way of being
C: All of the above
When you are in listening mode, the most effective approach is to listen for the purpose of:
A. Responding to the other person
B. Understanding the other person
When interacting with others, I’m able to shut out all distractions including buzzing phones, background discussions, and other thoughts and ideas to be totally present for the other person.
With a little bit if thought, you can likely ace this quiz by providing the correct letters. (1=C, 2=B, 3=true). But how well do you practice and apply these principles? If it was easy, everyone would do it. Almost no one does. Is there an opportunity for you to both develop and differentiate as an effective leader?
Who are you being as you listen? Be honest. Are you typically listening to Respond or to Understand? How potentially distracted are you? How well can you interpret and apply the feelings and meanings of the other person’s message? To what degree to you genuinely care about it? What would happen if others were able to rate you has high as you would rate yourself as a listener? How might you benefit?
Tom Lemanski helps accomplished leaders unlock potential, solve complex challenges, and amplify their impact.
Effective leadership is the key to driving meaningful, lasting success in a fast-changing world.
Tom’s focus on innovative strategies and self-awareness creates transformative results for leaders striving for the next level.
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