What Would Happen if You Listened First, Deeply, and More Often?

We often approach life with our vision, goals, and desires at the forefront. "We" is the common theme, and it's not necessarily with others in mind. As a result, what we strive to achieve may not align with the expectations of our collaborators, team members, or organization.

Making space to hear and understand the needs and wants of others always makes a difference—in families, teams, organizations, and even large, complex systems. Our own perspective may not always be the best way to produce the ideal results.

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What if we listened first?

What if we took the time to understand where others are coming from, their needs, and their wants? Listening is an ideal way to gain this understanding. By taking the time to listen first, we gather more information and develop a holistic picture of what is needed. This comprehensive view helps us achieve our goals more effectively.

Those who listen tend to have better grasp on the context/situation/; better quality relationships because they consider what they hear and integrate it into their actions and decisions.

Whether you are a professional, a leader or a coach, before launching into your next goal, consider: How much listening are you doing?

Strategies for Deep Listening

Here are some ways to help broaden your ability to listen deeply:

1. Listen to Words: Pay attention to verbs, adjectives, and intonation. Notice how words are expressed by the other person.
2. Observe Body Language: Watch the person’s movements and posture. What is the body communicating? Is there alignment between words and body language?
3. Tune into Emotions: Listen to the underlying tone and emotions. Are words and emotions aligned? Understanding emotions provides deeper insights into the other person’s state.
4. Trust Your Intuition: Notice any feelings or intuitions that arise while listening. These can offer valuable information.

As you listen to the words, the quality, tone, volume, and energy, you also pay attention to what is said between the words—the emotions, body language, and feelings. Trusting your intuition adds another layer of understanding.

Transforming Information into Action

Turning these information sources into questions can help validate and clarify the situation. Discussing with the other person or team leads to a clearer picture of what is happening and what is needed. You can then launch more effectively to achieve the desired results.

Listening in Daily Interactions

How much listening are you doing in your daily interactions—with your family, at work, with colleagues, in projects, and as a leader? Imagine the possibilities if you made time to listen first before diving into new initiatives. Consider the environment, stakes, and needs.

Listening to yourself is equally important. Are you aware of your own needs, feelings, and emotions? Taking time to listen to yourself enhances your ability to achieve your goals.

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The Power of Listening First

Imagine what could be achieved if you listened deeply to words, tones, energy, and emotions. Observing body language and trusting your intuition can provide even more information, helping you achieve your objectives more effectively with others.

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What will happen if you choose to listen first, more often, and in a deeper way?

Next time, try prioritizing listening first, deeper and much more, then see for yourself the difference it makes.