Listening Well
Understand. Interpret. Verify. Consider. These are the four steps to listening well.
We often make listening more difficult than it needs to be, usually caused by our ego’s desire to perform, prove, and win - especially when neither of those three desires are necessary or germaine to the conversation. In her HBR article, Nawaz (2017) posits that this four-step process will lead to slow and careful listening. Listening well includes: giving our full attention, filtering through the full message to capture the essence of what’s being shared, confirm your interpretation by asking clarify questions, and consider the context, lens, experience, and background of the giver, as it contributes to their perspective.
So, leaders...are you prepared to pivot from your ego’s bias to speak and be right for more opportunities to understand, interpret, verify, and consider? Can you give the gift of your attention, so that you can practice listening at a level where every giver you interact with feels accepted and respected by you? Consider the old adage: “No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Listening well is not only good for the giver, it’s great for you, as the receiver!
Quote for Growth
“Listening well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well.”