Listening

In order to refine your skill of external listening you need to quiet the conversation you are having with yourself and focus on hearing what the other person is saying.  Listening is affected by selective exposure, selective retention, experiences, and perception – whether we are consciously aware of these factors or not.  We listen through filters impacted by our levels of understanding, upbringing, culture, value system, social tendencies, education, relationships and the list goes on.  Research shows that most people are willing to listen to someone only as long as 80 percent of what’s being said blends with their own beliefs.

To enhance your communication, you need to hear what the person in front of you or on the phone is saying.  Give your undivided attention to that person.  Nothing can be going on inside of you.  Quiet your internal dialogue or self-talk- what you are saying to yourself in your head – most of which originates at the subconscious level.  You may never quiet all of your internal dialogue; however, it is possible to take charge of more of it.

Become aware of your self-talk.  Write it down and begin to recognize how it may be holding you back or moving you forward.  Is it beneficial or detrimental to you?  Take some quiet time and focus on yourself and your internal dialogue.  It could be as simple as noticing your self-talk while driving to work.  Are you putting yourself in a positive or negative frame of mind?

Bill McGrane – McGrane Global Centers