ACTIVE LISTENING
How do you listen to hear? One-way communication results from multi-tasking. Communication accidents that land you in a relationship ditch involve listening passively but not hearing, while multi-taking. Example: Half-listening to the speaker, while trying to problem solve another issue in your head, at the same time.
HEY, CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING? TELL YOURSELF: “IT’S O.K. TO SET ASIDE OTHER THINGS”
How do you cue yourself into being an empathetic listener? After all, you don’t want to give your talk partner the short end of the stick! Instigator communicators can make a speaker feel like a first-class teammate through these active listening steps:
1. Concentrate on removing distractions
2. Dedicate your concentration to your talk partner
3. Don’t have multiple conversations at once
4. Don’t try to figure out something else at the same time you’re listening
5. Ask questions to help you comprehend
6. You can only do one thing well at a time, so LISTEN
YOU CAN ONLY DO ONE THING WELL—SO LISTEN ACTIVELY
Listen: Don’t make an argument out of it! What’s in it for you to listen like an Empathizer? To learn more about the speaker and make the speaker feel like he or she matters. Works like a charm with Empathizer-type communicators who will continue to grow closer to you and work harder with you for mutual benefit.
“Talk Doc” Dennis O’Grady provides relationship help, family business consulting, and TALK2ME© positive and effective communication training for teams.