June 8, 2007: Effective Listening
Quote of the Week
“Really listening and suspending one’s own judgment is necessary in order to understand other people on their own terms. This is a process that requires trust and builds trust.”
– Mary Field Belenky
Effective Listening
by Steve Straus
Highly successful people tend to be excellent listeners.
On the other hand, people who struggle in life tend to be so wrapped up in their own ’story’ they can’t really hear what is available for them.
Effective listeners have developed the ability to temporarily let go of their history, beliefs, assumptions, expectations, wants, needs, and desires in order to be open to new information and ideas. They, of course, don’t change their opinions just because some new data shows up, but they are open to receiving it.
Listening is an important attribute of being open.
Their model is listen, receive, evaluate, move forward.
But people who must have their present and future be a certain way take those needs into every conversation. You know what it’s like to talk with someone who’s ‘mind is already made up.’ They are not effective listeners. And you have probably found them to be not very happy, satisfied, comfortable with life, nor fun to be around.
Copyright 2007 Steve Straus. All rights reserved. Steve Straus can be contacted at StrausUSA.
Coaching Call to Action
What can you do to temporarily let go of your story and practice really hearing the abundant information, knowledge, and wisdom which surrounds you?
Ideas and Information
Refuse to Choose! A Revolutionary Program for Doing Everything that You Love
by Barbara Sher
- Do you have an intense curiosity about numerous unrelated subjects?
- Are you endlessly inquisitive?
- Do you have a wide range of knowledge and abilities?
- Do you learn fast?
- Are you unable to decide a single direction for your life?
Then you may be a “Scanner”. Rather than diving into a single interest, you scan the horizon, eager to explore everything you see. In this book, you’ll learn about the exceptional Scanner mindset and a step-by-step program to fulfill your great potential and deliver on all of your distinctive talents, no matter how many interests you have. Check it out at Amazon.com.
|
|
|
|
