How does one effectively communicate when they are talking and not listening with an attentive ear. "When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen. (Ernest Hemingway). What do you think about Hemingway's statement? Do you agree with his quote? I have to say, I do. Some people love to hear themselves talk all the time. The problem with talking to much, we usually miss pertinent information,. When talking to others is all about the talker, you can bet the talker believes nothing others say has any meaning. There are multiple ways to improve your listening ear. For example, strive to listen with curiosity, stop what you are doing and face the person talking. Working while listening to someone talk is disrespectful.s It says to the person speaking the that you are not interested in what they are saying. You are to busy to hear. I remember someone mentioned to me long ago, 'Take the T off of HEART and it spells hear." This advise has stayed with me. An attentive ear, that is what I desire. Hear what is not being said is also important. If you are talking and interrupting some who is talking just to make your point, demonstration a lack of control on your part. What are some suggestion you may have to help others learn to communicate effectively? Are you a good listener? Rate your listening ear from 1-5, 5 being excellent. How do others see you? Talkative?, You always have a answer before anyone can absorb and process what is being said? Roy T. Bennett, said, "Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don't listen to understand we listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don't listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what's behind the words. What are your thoughts? Do you agree with Roy T. Bennett? He makes a strong point. Are we listening just to reply? I love this statement. How many of us just wait to reply and miss the whole point? Listening is a skill.Effective communicate is a art with multiple colors. When we stop talking and tune our heart towards what is being said, then effective communication will begin. Take off the T, then we listen. This week I challenge you to listen with your heart, get curious about what is being said.
I am Carolyn Coleman Grady
Comments
Thank you Dennis and Terri for your comments. I surely appreciate the feedback.
In my profession listening is important. This includes hearing what is not said. Even so I have to rate myself as a 4. One of my customers called me every day for three years. I truly doubted that he was listening because changes I recommended never happened. Then one day he gave me a link and asked me to follow it. What I found is everything I had told him, he had put together over the three year period. A few months later he called me and thanked me. His entire living now comes from online sources. Listening works two ways.
You nailed it in this post Carolyn. I had to work on my listening skills because I was very talkative. Thank you for the reminder of why it's better to listen intently to what people are saying, and not be so quick to reply before hearing what's being said.