When I was a young girl, my mother would say, “look at me when I am talking to you.”
On some level, she knew that grabbing my attention was difficult. If she wanted to be heard, she had to capture my attention quickly. Sometimes she even had to threaten me so I would focus. Does that sound familiar?
Once I became a leader I realized how vital listening was. I realized that if people did not feel heard, they would not share, be vulnerable or extend themselves professionally.
So, how do we get people to talk to us, and how do we keep them talking? We listen to them with our ears and with our hearts. We listen to what is being said, and what is NOT being said. Words and silence are BOTH powerful communicators. And our ability to “hear” both is what engenders trust, cultivates empathy and builds connections.
Let me know your thoughts. Are you a good listener?
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Did you see the last article about friendships? https://sharronjamison.com/are-you-sitting-with-an-enemy/