One of the most important skills I think anyone can learn in this life is how to listen. Listening is such a powerful tool! It can mend relationships, build others up, and allow you to be a better business owner, business conferences attendee, leader, friend, or employee. Everyone thinks that it’s easy to listen to, but then about 30 seconds into it, they find their mind drifting off elsewhere. They’re now thinking about what they’re going to tell the other person what they need to do. They’re thinking about what they’re going to eat for dinner, or how much the cost of beans are in China. What I’m trying to say, is that if you are not consciously making an effort to be actively engaged in listening, the end result is going to be you asking “what” for the third time in a row.
Listening is so much more than just sitting there silently, you are engaged and take an interest in what the other person has to say. This is huge at business conferences. Often times we only listen to reply, but when we stop what we’re doing, and listen to someone else about their day, a problem they’re having, stories about they’re childhood pet, or why they’re frustrated with one of their employees, it shows that you care. Not only does it show that you care, but it’s very flattering in the fact that you’re putting them over everything else in that moment.
The root of the problem is not usually what someone will first tell you.
When you listen to someone else, not only are you building good rapport and a stronger relationship, but you can find out the root of the problem. For instance, One thing I learned this week, is if someone is upset or frustrated,not only will they now have a bad attitude, but it can affect how they handle situations with coworkers, employees, friends, and family members. And so one of the greatest things you can do is to listen. Just let them vent and get everything out of their system, and then you can get to the root of the problem. Sometimes all people need to know is that someone is understanding their problems and frustrations. Showing restraint over your own opinions and listening to the other person shows that you care, that you value their insight, and it can lead to a solution!
The root of the problem is not usually what someone will first tell you. What’s really bothering someone is going to seep into other areas of their life, and only by listening and asking good business conferences questions will help you get to the bottom of things. This happened recently with an employee I manage. She seemed frustrated all day long, and was not performing as well as she normally does. Rather than just asking her directly what was bothering her, I listened carefully to what she had to say, and let her express her feelings. It was then that I figured out that something with her family was causing her to be agitated and she was just frustrated with the whole situation.
Just listening to someone talk can truly show how much you care, once you do that not only does it build a better relationship, but it helps you resolve the issue.
