The Value of Listening – Part 1

The Value of Listening – Part 1

By Peggy Brockman

The following information was taken from one of the values lessons I wrote about last month in the La Transformacion Esta En Mi training in Guatemala.  It is one of the most important lessons taught.  Due to limited space, I will be breaking this lesson in to two separate articles so be sure to come back next month for the second half!

Listening is one of the most important skills that we can have.  Interestingly enough, we typically take it for granted because we use it every day.  Developing your listening skills can be one of the greatest impacts you can have on both your business and professional life.  Whether it is a co-worker, your spouse or child, engaged, active listening is the key component of good communication.

Let’s take a look at the BENEFITS of good listening:

1. You will establish mutual respect with the people in your life. When you value what others say, you demonstrate that you value them and their point of view. This will create shared loyalty and trust.
2. You will develop conflict-resolution skills. Even the most volatile people or situations can often be diffused when they have the opportunity to be heard.
3. You will learn and grow as you seek out and listen to the valuable knowledge and experience of other people.
4. You will gain favor and influence with people because they know you care about what they have to say and how they feel.
5. You will create a positive environment by avoiding conflict and misunderstandings.

People who demonstrate the Value of Listening display certain CHARACTERISTICS.

1. These people are disciplined listeners. They consciously choose to speak less and listen more.
2. These people are eager to learn. They continually look for the opportunity to grow in every situation and in every conversation.
3. These people seek the truth. They are not satisfied with superficial information, so they ask questions to get clarity and a deeper understanding of conflicts or situations.
4. These people mediate between opposing viewpoints. They are more concerned with what is right than with who is right.
5. These people develop close relationships at home and at work. They make others feel valued and important by listening attentively to their needs and desires.

The best kind of listening requires us to set aside internal and external distractions so we can listen without judgement or interruption.  In order to listen at this level, we have to be emotionally and mentally invested in the conversation.  Stop, make eye contact, and pay attention to their words.  It may sound easy, but most of us do not regularly listen at this level.

Next week we will cover the Steps to Follow to be a good listener and then an Evaluation and Action formula you can use to become a better listener.  Until next month…….

**Peggy is the author of “10 Feet from the Edge: Stuck in the Comfort Zone” available on Amazon.  This article is an excerpt from La Transformacion Esta En Mi.  If interested in bringing this values based training program to your organization you can reach Peggy by email at [email protected] or by phone at 850-259-8356.  Peggy is a John Maxwell Team motivational speaker, corporate trainer and life and business coach.  Her website is www.peggybrockman.com.