In praise of listening: 4 reasons it matters big time
- Mon, May 23 2011
- Filed under: Marketing essentials
When I’ve hit home runs in proposals, speeches, interviews, teaching, or any other interaction, it’s always for the same reason: I listened first.
The most powerful and underrated skill in the world is listening. It’s incredibly hard and yet critically important.
Here’s why:
1. When you listen and make people feel heard, they like you.
2. You learn a lot about people.
3. You then become far more effective at connecting with people, because you know how to relate to the values and feelings they have. You become highly engaged and persuasive—much more so than if you were focused on yourself and the words you’‘re dying to utter.
4. Hardly anyone does it anymore. So when it happens, people are shocked and delighted.
Today, before you write a fundraising appeal, call a donor, thank them for their support and listen to what they say about why they love your organization.
Before you urge people to take action, find out how they feel in general as well as how they view your issue.
Before you tell your boss what you want, listen to what she’s worried about.
And instead of spending a conversation thinking about how you’ll respond, just focus on what’s being said.
Press pause on your lips, open your ears and see what happens.
Comments
This is the best advice ever: listening is such a powerful tool and free too!
Listening is indeed very challenging. I have a very bad habit of rambling when Im nervous. I have to remind myself shut up and listen.