Am I listening?

It is said that we have two ears and only one mouth for a reason. Yet we spend more time talking than we do listening. Have you ever wondered why there are so many courses in public speaking and few, if any, courses on the art of listening? When we do engage in listening it is often used to formulate the response we will make to the speaker. Ask yourself what you are doing when another person is talking. How engaged are you on the content and intent of the words you hear? Do you find yourself drifting off with disinterest asking yourself when the person is going to stop talking? Have you ever been confronted by the other person wanting to know if you are still listening to what they have to say? We fail to realize how much we can learn by listening to others. They are sharing who they are with you. This can include intimate thoughts or creative ideas. They deserve the time to hear them out. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about what they are telling you to let them know that their words matter. Summarize what you hear to be sure of their message. Think about how you feel when someone listens to you in this manner and return the behavior in kind. Who was the last person you truly listened to and how did it affect your relationship in doing so?