Petersen Publications
Spring Newsletter
April 2010
IN THIS ISSUE
Listening Tip
Sally's Miniatures
Free Workshop

Friday, May 14th
6 to 9 pm

See
"Learning to Listen"
below for Details


Good morning. We have two news items for you today. Since it's almost the annual income tax deadline, here we've attached a listening tip that might help with that dread situation. It's called Admit Ignorance.

 

My thought here is not admitting ignorance to the IRS, but admitting to your spouse or your accountant (or whoever is working on your taxes with you) that you don't understand what they are saying. It's a short little tip, rarely used alone, but it can help move a discussion along and bail you out of confusion now or trouble later.

 

If all else fails, remember that flat brains abound when we're dealing with money matters. A lot of extra understanding and calmness is called for, especially when spouses work on finances together. And perhaps even more understanding might be called for, if partners handle their finances separately...

Jim in Nature
Listening Tip: Admit Ignorance

     Briefly, tell talkers you don't understand what they are saying, don't know what's going on, or don't know what they should do about their situations. Then get on with using other listening techniques.

     This may be difficult for you. Many of us have terrible trouble admitting we don't know something. But if we are willing to be ignorant, we can provide better listening help.

     It helps me do this when I remember that ignorance is temporary. It just means I don't know yet, and that's fixable. Stupid means we can't learn and that's serious and permanent. (I know the latter is not your problem or you wouldn't have read this far.)

     Admitting ignorance works as a listening technique because it invites the talker to educate you. Even talkers who are upset will want to help you understand what's going on and fill you in. Try saying: "I don't understand what you mean. Help me understand...?" Or, "Tell me that again, I didn't follow it...?" Or, "I just got here, and I don't know what happened...?"  * For more on admitting ignorance: check Chapter 19. Special Circumstance Listening Techniques - After a death.

     When we risk admitting our ignorance, it keeps us from talking before we know what's really going on and this allows bothered talkers to "tell us all about it. Try it, you'll like it.

Jim in Nature
Sally's Miniatures
     Here's a treat from Sally's writings: an unpublished gem of a miniature that perhaps many can relate to.

Changes
    Conversations used to happen all at one time.  Now they stretch over hours (or days) as I remember to add things I forgot, or recall a bit of relevant information, or decide not to let something go by uncorrected or      unchallenged.

Hi, this is Sally...Yes, the new lodge is open...
 
Just remembered, her name is Sophia...
 
He was graduated in engineering, not geology...
 
I've been thinking about your idea...
 
Hey, it was $24.95, not $42.95...
 
The sharp edges are disappearing.
 
Aug. 2005

Jim in Nature Learning To Listen
Jim has a communication workshop scheduled for Friday evening, May 14 from 6 to 9pm at the Good Samaritan Ministries gathering place. GSM sponsors the session and welcomes people who want to buff up their communication skills with Jim using techniques from his book. The workshop is free, although we're sure the Good Sam people might welcome a donation.

The Good Samaritan Ministries gathering place is located at 7929 Cirrus Drive, Bldg. 23, Beaverton, OR 97008.

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Don't forget to check out our archived newsletters reachable via the "Newsletter Archive" link at left or through the Media Room tab on our website. We labeled each newsletter with the name of the listening trip from Jim and the name of the little essay from Sally. Check on "Repeating Accurately" if you want to immediately improve your relationship with your partner or Sally's Miniature The Expert for an observation of childhood. Enjoy!

 
Sincerely,
 

Jim Petersen
Petersen Publications