Listening The Lost "ART"

When you think of communications, you think of two people or a group having a conversation, the 'Human Voice.' As humanity we love to conversate with one another, however, with technology, communications has expanded, from smartphones, virtual technology (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Virtual Reality ....), text messages, social media channels, and more to come in the future. The question is as we become more adapted to technology to communicate with one another is listening a lost art?

There are many distractions today, a lot of noise, with all the technological devices, it seems that those devices are decreasing how we interact at work, in business and our personal lives. Since communication is a broad topic, I had to think on where can I show you a better example on the importance of listening. Are we familiar with work meetings? I knew this would be a HOT TOPIC to write on for listening being a lost art.

Within organizations, there are a lot of meetings happening everyday. There are meetings better than others, because some leaders understand the importance of listening and setting the tone for everyone to be heard and their are some leaders who allow their meetings to get out of control with no direction. What are the steps to have a great meeting. Here are 3 points to have an effective meeting: set the tone, effective communication skills, and the art of listening.

Not only do leaders run meetings, their direct reports run meetings when they are involved in Employee Resource Groups or being a part a taskforce team. It's important for everyone to develop the three points of conducting a great meeting:

1. Set the tone: When you facilitate a meeting set the tone, by having an agenda to follow and not shoot from the hip. Express the meaning to respect the person who is speaking, because we all want to feel a sense of belonging and the importance of time management to respect everyone's time. When the meeting is in overtime, that cuts into your employee's productivity or it's lunchtime. Listening and Time are an asset for your organization.
2. Effective Communication Skills: Speaking in a meeting, is a form of collaboration with your peers to hear everyone's ideas. The most important element is to be conscious that others would like to have a voice at the table. When a peer is speaking and it's your turn to speak, don't just speak your truth, acknowledge the exchange from that individual, who was speaking their ideas, say, " thank you Mike for sharing some great insights, I would like to add..." that shows gratitude and again a since of listening.
3. The Art of Listening: When I joined Toastmasters International, December 1, 2011, I was excited, I received my two manuals, Competent Communication and Competent Leadership. I remembered like it was yesterday, when I had a great conversation with my Mom and as she was speaking I would interrupt each time, because I was excited about the topic! That day, my Mom said, "Does Toastmasters teach you how to LISTEN!" That phrase had struck an arrow in my heart. I listened to my Mom's question, therefore, I opened my Competent Leadership Manual, and you will not believe it, the first chapter was on 'Listening' the first two sentences stated: "Listening is an important leadership skill. Through good listening, you can acquire information, identify and clarify issues, make decisions, and resolve conflict." I did go back to my Mom, and told her, "That Toastmasters does teach their club members on effective listening!!!" This conversation with my Mom has really made me a better listener. Listening can be a great point to having an effective meeting, your team members feel it's a safe space to speak, and everyone again, feels a since of belonging to a great team.

Listening do not have to be a lost art, with consistency to adding value to the person you are speaking with, will add value to you, because you are learning new ideas, getting to know your peer and giving that person a since belonging.

Your homework is to Practice, Practice, Practice and develop your true listening skills!!!!!

HAPPY LISTENING!

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