LISTENING LIKE A GOLDFISH

Listening is a lost art. If you learn to listen and become a world-class listener, you can easily find yourself in the top 1% of your chosen profession. Heck, you don’t actually need to be a world-class listener; becoming a good listener will get you there just about as fast.? But If you proclaim that you are, then you must work to become it.

In our digital society, the art of listening has become a rarity, making those who possess this skill stand out in any crowd. Our collective attention spans have consistently dwindled, a fact that is not hard to believe. Just GOOGLE it. It says, “The average human attention span is 8.25 seconds. Attention spans can range from 2 seconds to more than 20 minutes. The average human attention span decreased by nearly 25% from 2000 to 2015.” In other words, humans have shorter attention spans than goldfish.?

Really?

Ralph G. Nichols said, “The most basic human need is to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.”? Most people who say they listen are just listening for their next opportunity to talk. Others just don’t listen. It’s cold, impersonal, and frankly rude. Yet, I’ve had people in a job interview ask a question, and then, as I attempt to answer them, they check their email. Or have you ever noticed a family of four out for a beautiful dinner at a fine restaurant, and all of them are looking at their phones instead of having a conversation?

We are so easily distracted by YouTube, texts, email, and Tick Tock that we are becoming a world of deaf, uncaring goldfish. And thus, the opportunity lies. If you become someone who exhibits an interest in listening and understanding your prospects, customers, employees, bankers, investors, mentors, spouses, or children, you WILL attract people hungry to be heard. People have needs, issues, and concerns. They have gripes, challenges, and sometimes opportunities with no one to discuss them with. So, if you are the one who gives them the perception that you want to understand these things, they will reluctantly tell you, and then they will let it all out and tell you everything.?

?And here lies the secret to it all.

If people perceive that you truly want to understand their needs from their point of view and if you are the one that they share these things with, they will inherently trust you. This trust is not just valuable; it's powerful. It can open doors, build bridges, and create opportunities you might not have ever imagined. This is the potential of effective listening in your professional and personal life.?

As a sales professional and a Master Business Coach, I have witnessed the power of listening in my success. One of my primary “secrets” to success is that if I ask questions, I shut up and listen…A prospect will TELL ME HOW TO SELL THEM. They need help and guidance and want to work with someone they perceive to care. If they also believe that you understand their issues and needs, then you are the person that they will inherently trust to work with them and help. That perception begins with listening. This is not just a theory; it's a proven strategy that has worked for me and can work for you, too.?

I shouldn’t have to tell you about the potential impact of good listening habits on personal relationships. Good listening habits are just as valuable here as well.?

My competitive strategy is simple. I simply let all my competition talk too much and tell too much. At the same time, I ask questions, listen, understand, and build winning relationships. It’s my secret weapon, and now it’s yours.?

When you ask questions and then shut your mouth and listen, really listen, you will be amazed at what people will tell you. And in business, that means business!