Tweet

Put On Your Listening Hat

Guest post by: Robert Whipple

Article Overview: We have always had problems with people hearing but not listening. I believe with the electronic world, we are getting worse rather than better. This article focuses on a way to make sure the other party is focused on understanding your message.

Put On Your Listening Hat

Of all the frustrations in the workplace, the most consistently mentioned in all office surveys is poor communication. All forms of communication need to be constantly improved by leaders. This article focuses on techniques to improve listening skills.

When most of us are listening, our minds are focused on preparing to speak. The root of the problem is that we can think at a much faster rate than we can talk, so we have spare mental capacity when in conversation. Normally that would be a good thing because it would allow time to focus on the message being received so it can sink in. Instead what happens is that we become distracted by our own thoughts toward the next point we want to make. This renders us incapable of understanding what the person is trying to say to us. We hear the words as a dim drone in the background where our thoughts are clearly focusing on our own brilliant retort.

The classic way to improve listening is the process of reflective listening or "active" listening. If the person not speaking is awake enough to reflect the key points by injecting small summaries along the way, he or she will have to focus much of the mind capacity on what the other person is saying. This technique really works, but it takes a lot of practice to do it well. There is another method that can improve hearing.

I discovered a simple trick that can cut through the fog if you are on the sending side of the equation. This method cannot be used constantly or even frequently, but it is quite useful for those occasions where you really want something to sink into the other person's brain. You need to break the steady drone of information and shock the other person into paying attention. I have found the following statement to be particularly helpful:

• "I need to make an important point here, so put on your listening hat."

This statement will bring the other person to full consciousness on your next point. The attention will not be lasting, so do this only for critical points and do not use it often.

In working to improve communications, we need to not just hear what people are saying, we need to really listen to what they mean. This will allow us to understand the input, which is the prime objective of all communication. This requires all of our observation faculties, not just our ears. Body language and cadence also have a great deal to do with the message being sent. So, really listening involves most of the senses, not just hearing.

Related Articles
  The Art of Heart-Listening
  LISTENING SKILLS IN COACHING
  Parents Can Accelerate their Children's Ability to Learn
  LEADERSHIP: ART & SKILL OF LISTENING
  Improve Your Active Listening Skills
  Jumping to Conclusions
  Communication Categories - Which one are you
  LEADERSHIP : ART & SKILL OF LISTENING.
  Can You Hear Me Now? Great Executive Coaches Are Not Just Great Talkers They're Great Listeners
  The Most Important Button on Your Phone
  Sales Coaching Tip: Change Your Role to Increase Sales
  3 Time Tested Useful Tips For Effective Listening
  A de-escalation technique
  The Art of Communication
  Improving Listening Skills
  Which Did You Do - Lose Your Temper or Self-Confidence
  Sales Training London: Playing the WAITing Game
  Not listening can be catastrophic
  Learn the Powers of Effective Communication
  The Art of Effective Listening

Article Tags: communication, Leadership, listening, motivation, trust



Related Forum Posts
Re: How do I find a direct mail list of potential customers - Hi WhyNot, Is it possible there are websites about the Federal Government. It needs to delve into it to find the key person. Listening for once to the news could pinpoint who is really in charge of this department. I wish you wisdom to connect with the right people. Nothing is too difficult, if you put your mind to it. Maybe some one else has a supportive idea.
Re: How to Get Over Your Fear of Failure, Make Every Second Coun - Hi Evan, I've just been listening to a couple of your MTM videos while packing parcels. I especially enjoyed this one on JKR. Listening to stuff like this while packing orders is one of my better ways of "making every second count!"
Ideas on Using Twitter for Business - 1. Build an account and immediate start using Twitter Search to listen for your name, your competitor's names, words that relate to your space. (Listening always comes first.) 2. Add a picture. ( Shel reminds us of this.) We want to see you. 3. Talk to people about THEIR interests, too. I know this doesn't sell more widgets, but it shows us you are human. 4. Point out interesting things in your space, not just about you. 5. Share links to neat things in your community. ( wholefoods does this well). 6. Don't get stuck in the apology loop. Be helpful instead. ( jetblue gives travel tips.) 7. Be wary of always pimping your stuff. Your fans will love it. Others will tune out. 8. Promote your employees outside-of-work stories. ( TheHomeDepot does it well.) 9. Throw in a few humans, like RichardAtDELL, LionelAtDELL, etc. 10. Talk about non-business,
Re: Franchise Surveys - Great, hope you have taken the time to read my earlier post in this same thread. Before I forget, go for a franchise that involves something of interest to you, and don't just rely on the offered prospectus ROI numbers Listening and sharing are great concepts and should be part of your due diligence, but qualify the source of the information that you are receiving, I would add Observation and become a customer and see first hand the operations and management of the franchise I would also try some not so obvious exit surveys of the customers, satisfaction with the food, service, accommodations, cleanliness, toilets, etc. Related such to the type of franchise you are considering Survey more than one location What is the competition, traffic count, etc Franchises are great for some that do not have a plan of their own. Remember it is their plan, and most will not let you sway from their success model. For me, I would prefer to reinvent the plan and do it my way
Re: Ideas on Using Twitter for Business - [quote="evieparsons":2o69rd2a]1. Build an account and immediate start using Twitter Search to listen for your name, your competitor's names, words that relate to your space. (Listening always comes first.) 2. Add a picture. ( Shel reminds us of this.) We want to see you. 3. Talk to people about THEIR interests, too. I know this doesn't sell more widgets, but it shows us you are human. 4. Point out interesting things in your space, not just about you. 5. Share links to neat things in your community. ( wholefoods does this well). 6. Don't get stuck in the apology loop. Be helpful instead. ( jetblue gives travel tips.) 7. Be wary of always pimping your stuff. Your fans will love it. Others will tune out. 8. Promote your employees outside-of-work stories. ( TheHomeDepot does it well.) 9. Throw in a few humans, like RichardAtDELL, LionelAtDELL, etc. 10. Talk about non-business,[/quote:2o69rd2a] Hey thanks for these tips. Basically, help others in your market out and build relationships with people. Be someone who gives, not takes. I'll keep them in mind if I go back to social media marketing. I'm currently in the SEO phase of my business.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

When Your Smiling

Small Business Internet Marketing

What To Do With a Troublemaker?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.