Tomorrow is the first day of school for my three children, which always indicates the end of summer to me. I am so glad we usually have another three to four weeks of good weather to look forward to as I am not ready to face the cold and rain that will soon be upon us.
The end of summer signals the time to return to the "real" world -- time to get serious about things. We fall back into our routine, schedules pick up and it seems that even more must be accomplished in what feels like less amount of time.
As I think back upon the last few months to the various networking events I've attended, the coffee meetings where I've gotten to know new acquaintances and re-connected with those I haven't seen in awhile; the lunches I've shared with friends; and the various workshops and presentations where I have discussed information pertaining to business etiquette and/or customer service, I mull over what it is that I have learned.
I have learned, once again, how important it is to listen.
Listen to the words the other person is speaking. Do you notice the emotion behind them? Are the two in tune with each other? What about the body language -- does it seem appropriate to what is being expressed or is there a disconnect? Do you really hear what is being said?
Listening is one of
the most important aspects of interacting with other people: - Stop
thinking about what you want to say and pay attention to the other
person's words
- Sometimes that person simply wants to be
heard
- "People with big ears have bite marks on
their tongues!"
- Don't
assume you know what is going to be said ... you will tune out!
- Don't
interrupt or finish sentences - you appear impatient and rude
- Don't
form a rebuttal or response in your mind while the person is talking. If necessary, take notes
- Pay
attention to non-verbal cues, such as body language and tone of voice
- Pay
attention to your body language - don't fidget!
Active
listening intentionally focuses on who you are listening to, whether in a group
or one-on-one, in order to understand what he or she is saying. It is a skill that requires practice but is definitely worth developing.
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Remember...
One of the things I enjoyed listening to the most this summer was the sound of my kids playing in the backyard, outside my office window. There was running, splashing, the crack of a bat hitting a whiffle ball, gossiping, teasing, the occasional tears, but above all, laughter. I learned to hear the small, every day things.
What have you learned over the past three months?
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