Listening

This is a topic that cannot be over-emphasized. Out of respect for those who we are communicating with, we should be active listeners. I am more guilty than most at not being a good listener.

Here are some important listening tools:

1. Listen with your eyes. Make good eye contact so the person talking to you knows you are paying attention.

2. Listen with your body. Sit up and lean slightly forward. Anything else communicates lack of attention.

3. Listen with your mind. Actively engage the topic being discussed.

Common politeness would dictate that we should always follow these rules. Professionalism would dictate that we do it at work. Desire to excell would dictate we surely do this in interviews, meetings with clients, performance reviews, when communicating with those who supervise us and extremely importantly those we supervise.

Though I will freely admit that there are times I purposefully break these rules when I am trying to communicate that this is not the right time for the given conversation.

TBL: Keep listening at the front of the list of skills you constantly sharpen.