Listen Well

I like the work and writing of Margaret Wheatley PhD a world thought leader in leadership, creating community, and collaboration and communication. One of my favorite quotes is from her book Turning To One Another, Conversations Of Hope For The Future (2001) where she offers the following:

“ I believe we can change the world if we start listening to one another again. Simple, honest, human conversation. Not mediation, negotiation, problem-solving, debate, or public meetings. Simple truthful conversation where we can have a chance to speak, we feel heard, and we each listen well.”

Listen well.

As I work with clients and groups, these words have become like a mantra for me, guiding me as I listen, and engage in curious questioning. The need for people to be heard and understood is so strong, and I am hearing that need it in all sectors of industry and community.

Can you think of when you were really heard? How was that? What was it about that interaction that worked so well?

So, how do you listen when you interact with another person, be it family, friend, colleague, co-worker, customer, client, or student? Do you listen well? As you engage in the communication, are you considering the both what is spoken and unspoken? Are you aware of the other person’s feelings and needs? Are you open and agenda free? Do you listen to the language being used? Do you understand how they view the world? Or, do you jump into ‘the meat’ of the conversation and validate their situation, and offer solutions and advice based on your experience, and knowledge, and before you know it the conversation has turned and is now all about you?

Listen well.

With your eyes, ears, senses, head, and heart.

Be in service to the other person. Give them the gift of being heard and understood. Give voice to their dreams, feelings, needs and desires.

Listen well.