The 1-Minute Rule for Being a Less Bad Listener

Dear Essentialists,?

Everyone needs to be understood.

But finding someone who helps you feel understood is rare.?

Think about the opportunity this presents for you.

What if you could be the person who really listens in a world where everyone is desperate to be understood?

I’m not talking about surface-level listening with a few well-placed head nods and a shallow restate.?

The world has enough of that.?

The listening that I am talking about is where you become lost in another person’s world, where curiosity is the driving force, and the desire to understand and communicate is at the root of your efforts.

It's listening where ideas aren't just shared; they are amplified.?

Think of how being this type of listener would make you stand out. Think of how your relationships would improve. Think of how your influence would increase.?

My good friend, Carey Nieuwhof, once told me, “If you listen longer than most people listen, you will hear things that most people never hear.”

Hearing things that most people never hear and seeing things that most others don’t see is where the magic lies. It will give you an advantage in building relationships and recognizing what's essential.?

The 1-Minute Rule for Being?a Less Bad Listener

1. Don't focus on your agenda?-?Instead of looking to see how you can fit your needs, wants, and ideas into a conversation, focus on the other person’s needs, wants, and ideas.
2. Be curious?-?Try to learn something from every conversation. When you feel the temptation to return the conversation to you, stop and ask a question instead.?

"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply."??

-?Stephen R. Covey

In gratitude,?

Greg

Download Your Copy of The?Influence Builder - FREE

Last week on?The Greg McKeown Podcast, I talked about The Influence Builder tool.

Whether it's your boss, a high-value client, or your teenager,?The Influence Builder will give you the roadmap for increasing your influence with others.

You can download The Influence Builder for free using the link below.?

The Influence Builder

p.s. To learn more about using The Influence Builder, make sure to listen to episode 2 of?The Greg McKeown Podcast.?You can listen here.?

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