Listening

From our Motiv8ing Ideas Archive

Eric Allenbaugh once said that "Active listening is one of the highest forms of giving".

Unfortunately, too often, our listening is merely 'waiting to speak'.

Listening goes beyond just words, tones and sounds. By listening to people's eyes, facial expressions, hands, and body language, we gain more insight into what is being communicated.

Often, listening for what is not being said may be just as important as listening to the words.

For our partners and children, we should be generous listeners. Peggy and James Vaughan, in their wonderful guidebook "Making Love Stay", commended "interpret your partner's words in the best possible way".

For our team at work, true and empathetic listening to people's ideas, concerns, and "me" issues, will help build team and individual motivation.

We should, of course, also listen to our own internal voice.

Madame de Stael expressed it well when she said "The voice of conscience is so delicate that it is easy to stifle it; but it is also so clear that it is impossible to mistake it".