Listening Archives - CONSIDER THIS Radio Show with Annette Petrick

An email arrived from a friend. It was an unusually long one. I realized immediately that my friend was getting something off her chest. So I printed out the message and curled up in an easy chair to see what was on her mind.

Seems she had just lost a close friend – suddenly, unexpectedly. He was someone she planned to spend more time with. She talked about how she intended to invite him and his family over for Thanksgiving, but time got away from her. She surely expected to see him during the Christmas holidays, but that didn’t happen. The following year had gone by so quickly and there was so much happening in her life . . . Well, you get the picture.

He was the friend she intended to keep up with but did not. And now the pain in her message was sharp. She felt she had failed him. And now there were no more chances to make up.

It’s so easy to get carried away with minutia each day. It is so tempting to have your day’s priorities include the business of living, but not the business of loving. Don’t let it happen to you.

If you make a to do list for each day, add an item reminding you to call a friend, or send an email. Reach out to them on Facebook or invite them to lunch. It will be worth it.

[Show #344]

I remember hearing someone at a party described as a brilliant conversationalist. I was surprised at the comment, because it had just occurred to me that I had hardly heard the man say a word all night.

I think what the observer had witnessed was good listening skills. When the man did speak, he fed back what the other person had said. That must have made him sound very wise.

Listening really is a very important skill. How well you listen can have a major impact on your job and your relationships with others.

An early mentor of mine told me to learn to “Listen with a third ear.” It took me a long time to figure out what that meant – listening between the lines; listening to body language as well as words.

When you are truly listening, you are NOT thinking about what you will say next. You are concentrating on the other person and committed to hearing all the nuances of their language.

By becoming a better listener, we improve our productivity and increase our ability to influence, persuade and negotiate. We also avoid the conflict and misunderstandings that may result when you THINK you heard but really didn’t.

Take time to practice good listening skills. It’s a personal improvement that gives rich returns.

And – thanks for listening.

[#435]