“Strategic Communications - Don’t Just Listen, LISTEN & HEAR!”
By: J. Glenn Ebersole, Jr., Founder & Chief Executive of J. G. Ebersole Associates and The Renaissance Group ™
Almost every day we encounter an ad, a slogan, or some other communication that admonishes us to Listen! Entire ad campaigns have been built around a theme that tells the world that they listen to their customers. And I agree that listening is a very powerful way to connect with another person. That being said, I firmly believe that listening is only part of the power. The real power comes when we LISTEN & HEAR!
Can you think of instances where you were talking with someone and they emphatically told you and assured you that they were listening? Then later you discovered that they may have listened, but they certainly did not hear what you said. This happens every day in our business and personal lives. Can you think of some failure in business that resulted from someone just listening, but not hearing what is said? Listening is an essential skill when relating to others and it is critical to realize that hearing the words and truly understanding and accepting the other person’s message, situation and feelings are also required to HEAR what is being said.
We fail to HEAR whenever: we “already know” what we are going to hear; we seek confirmation, instead of information; we do not focus and give full attention to whomever is speaking; we allow prejudices, closed-minded opinions, fears of being wrong get in our way of understanding the message; we judge the speaker while the person is speaking; and we rehearse our response while the other person is speaking.
Effective listening and hearing are strategic competencies and will provide many benefits for you and your business. Some of those benefits include:
1. earned respect, rapport & trust
2. increased productivity.
3. more effective problem solving
4. increased confidence
5. improved levels of accuracy.
6. innovative solutions
7. improved morale
8. improved internal & external communications
9. more influential leadership
10. improved customer attraction & retention
If you want to learn more about the “art” and benefits of listening & hearing for you and your business, please contact Glenn Ebersole today through his web site at: www.businesscoach4u.com or by email at: jgecoach@aol.com
Strategic Communications Dont Just Listen LISTEN HEAR - To learn more about this author, visit Glenn Ebersole's Website.
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