475 - Do you listen to understand?

Listening may be the most important skill anyone can learn.

We don't have to speak louder, or type in ALL CAPS, to be understood.

Whether speaking or typing, say it with simplicity, clarity and purpose so those you are communicating with understand and"hear" you.

I recently read an article about a mass shooting. It was a post loaded with racial implications and it didn't take long for much of the discussion to dissolve into another mudslinging contest.

No one was "listening" to anyone but themselves. Some contributors made it their mission to change the subject.

When will it stop? When will we start to listen?

We start with one topic and suddenly people are comparing different, often unrelated, situations.

A discussion on animal abuse will get turned into an argument over abortion.

A meeting about the direction of a marketing campaign gets side tracked to a discussion about employee parking.

All important, none related.

Comments aimed at one person are misunderstood by another.

Confusion sets in. The dialogue disintegrates.

Have you seen this happen in an office setting, a zoom meeting or an in-person meeting?

It all stems from people not listening, or listening to respond rather than listening to understand.

We aren't taught active listening in school or at home. We are told over and over to pay attention, which does nothing to help a child understand WHY they should learn to listen.

Suddenly, we are all grown up and still not listening. And, we can't understand why no one listens to us.

Are you the boss or an employee? Are you a frustrated manager who isn't able to get the ears of your team? A mother, father, teacher, student, or child...no one is listening.

There are excellent books and TedTalks on the subject of listening.

How about participating in training on listening together with your team, employees or even family?

Do you feel as if you are being heard when you communicate?

If not, ask yourself first if you are an active listener?

Do you listen to understand others?