The Power of Active Listening

Think you know how to (really) actively listen to another human being? I doubt it! Please know, this is not a dig on you, it simply reflects, in one regard, how ill- prepared we are for facing life; with succeeding in both our personal and professional lives.

For most of us, we have not been formally trained or educated in the art of listening actively to others. Hence, few do it well. But, the consequences of poor listening are enormous.

Consider that as professionals, when we don't listen well we get mired in unnecessary conflicts, endless debates, and intractable standoffs on both trivial and substantive matters alike. And in our personal lives, when we don't actively listen to others it results in much of the same - poor relations with others, personal conflict, added stress, etc. But when we do learn how to effectively listen to others, most of the above debilitation's melt away.

Some of the keys to active listening include:

• Choosing to listen first, then speak

• Being mindful of how your mental models, beliefs, and assumptions shape and color your seeing, thinking, acting, and feeling

• Suspending your 'absolute certainties' to consider points of view contrary to your own

• Being open to being influenced by others; adopting an attitude of reception

• Being aware of your thoughts (in real-time) as they enter your head and then 'suspending' them to consider others' viewpoints

• Treat every conversation as an opportunity to learn

If you make it a habit to review this list daily, in fact, before EVERY meeting you attend in time you will begin to improve your listening capacity. Moreover, you will be in a position to help others improve their listening capacity.

Related Reading

• Strategic Listening: The Secret Sauce of Innovation

• 5 Keys to Actively Listen to Others

• Dialogue: The Key to Innovation & Cultural Transformation

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