Personal stereos, radios, television, mobile phones. In today’s high-tech world there are so many distractions. All compete for our attention.
So what does it take to make you listen? To really understand the issues your child is having, or the problems your staff member is facing? You can learn to listen, not just with your ears, but with your eyes, and by using your intuition as well.
This is a coaching technique which I use a lot to help managers in the work place. By stopping, and reaching out to understand the unmet need in an employee, you can empower them to find the solution to their problem.
Karina works for a large company in sales. I met with Karina on several occasions before I was able to draw her out. She complained that she did not have a company car, like the rest of the team. When I pressed her further she admitted that it wasn’t so much the lack of car which upset her, as the feeling that the company did not value her enough.
If the company secured a car for Karina, the underlying issue would still not be solved. By probing a little deeper, I reached the root of the problem. I listened to Karina, and helped her articulate the real concern.
As a manager, it is easy to take control of a situation. You see a staff member struggling, so you take over and sort out the issue. This is not going to help your employee. They will not grow personally and get a handle on the job if you do not enable them to act independently.
Your child is getting picked on at school. The temptation is to leap in to his defence. By doing this, you are not identifying the source of the problem. You are not providing your child with the tools necessary to equip him later in life to look after himself.
Take a step back. Remove yourself from the immediate situation. Before jumping in, look at the wider issues. Listen to your member of staff, or your child. Focus on what is beneath the surface. By asking a few pertinent questions you may be able to set them on the right road where they can find the answer themselves.
You’ll build a productive team around you with real power to make changes, and produce individuals who are able to succeed in life.
Julianne Kuhlmann
Kool Results ... putting you first
Personal & Business Coaching
Phone: 08 8376 3492 Fax: 08 8376 3493 Mobile: 0438 017 873
Email: fiona@koolresults.com.au Web: www.koolresults.com.au Blog: http://kool-results.blogspot.com
What lies beneath? - To learn more about this author, visit Julianne Kuhlmann's Website.
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