If you are a part of a team – at home, at work, or at school; isn’t being heard important? Whether you are speaking or one of those listening to someone speaking, have you considered the importance of listening on a daily basis?
The adage, we were given two ears and one mouth for a reason, gives cause for pause. When we listen, we take notice of and act on what someone says; we respond to advice or a request. Or perhaps we make an effort to hear something; we are alert and ready to hear. Either way, we engage with others through listening.
In a world where we are bombarded with the constant influx of stimuli, making time to listen and really hear someone is a critical skill. Leaders who listen are respected and feel supported by colleagues, employees, clients and vendors. In families, the act of listening and really hearing each other can go a long way in establishing trust and maintaining solid relationships. Listening facilitates two way communication and opens up many doors to discoveries. It can boost emotional intelligence, compassion and productivity at work and at home.
In a world where we often experience a lack of time to arrange priorities, listening to ourselves and others can result in factors coming together quickly. Listening is not often mentioned in a job description, yet in the ever changing landscape of the 21st century, listening skills are proven skills for those engaged in multi-generational and multi-cultural work places and families.
How you ask? Let’s consider these questions:
- Do misunderstandings impact your relationships, trust or ability to foster cohesiveness?
- How often is time invested in “do-overs”?
- Have you ever wondered if you had all the information to proceed with a task or project (were you clear or fuzzy)?
- Do others feel appreciated and/or cared for by you?
- Have you ever left a meeting wondering if your voice was heard?
Investing in listening takes some practice. Have you ever heard the voices in your head talking in preparation for your time to speak, rather than placing attention exclusively on the person who has the floor? If so, you may miss important information. Active listening is indeed a skill.
Mindtools.com says, “Listening is one of the most important skills you can have. How well you listen has a major impact on your job effectiveness, and on the quality of your relationships with others.
For instance:
- We listen to obtain information.
- We listen to understand.
- We listen for enjoyment.
- We listen to learn.”
Build the listening muscle through practice and take notice of the results. We’d love to hear about your results!
The Living Planner supports workplace productivity and employee engagement by providing a variety of resources. Are your employees ready for anything life hands them?
We’ve been listening and have uncovered a tremendous amount of information. We’ve learned that well-being begins by knowing who you are, where you are, what your wishes are and by developing strategies to move forward having access to resources and support when needed.
Contact us to learn more about how we work with individuals, business owners and employees to identify precautionary measures you can take at home, work and in life via Email or online @ The Living Planner