(Looks like it’s time for my annual rant about poor listening skills in the workplace.)
As workplace communicators, we obviously spend a lot of time each day communicating verbally. Therefore, we spend a lot of time listening … or should. Problem is, we don’t listen very well. Especially those of us Type A Driver Entrepreneurs. Sound familiar? We regularly fall victim to one or more of these seven Barriers to Listening:
I love the concept but hate the term – let me explain. I’ve dedicated my entire career to empowering business leaders to enhance their workplace communication skills. Taking away some of their pain when they interact with colleagues, staff, managers or customers in writing, in person and in presentations – that’s what I love most and do best.
Admit it – we’re all poor listeners. Very poor. No surprise here – it’s the nature of our beast in the modern world. But, instead of just lamenting about it … or ignoring the condition … there are lots of simple ways to Make Listening Work for you if you want to improve this critical skill.
‘Instant Influence – How to Get Anyone to Do Anything – FAST’, Michael V. Pantalon, PhD, Gildan Media Corp, 2011, The author presents an interesting approach to influencing people – succeeding in only seven minutes with six simple questions.
Last month’s frustrating rant reminded readers why we don’t listen very well. But not to worry – this month is all about what to do about that situation. Here are lots of simple ways to Make Listening Work for you.
As workplace communicators, we obviously spend a lot of time each day communicating verbally. Therefore, we spend a lot of time listening … or should.
Problem is, we don’t listen very well. Especially those of us Type A Driver Entrepreneurs. Sound familiar? We regularly fall victim to one or more of these seven Barriers to Listening:
‘Good in a Room – how to sell yourself and your ideas and win over any audience’, by Stephanie Palmer, Tantor Media, Inc., 2008. A most interesting take on high stakes pitches and meetings from a former Hollywood studio executive who listened to a lot of pitches in a lot of meetings.
Some of my most loyal readers are job seekers who have heard me speak at one of the three non-profit job seeker groups I support in NE OH. So, I thought you might find this piece interesting and potentially helpful. And please share it with anyone you know who is in a search or planning a career change.
Management-staff one-on-one meetings should be a regular component of any organization’s performance management system. They allow for maintaining professional relationships and providing constructive ‘Plus/Delta’ feedback.
If you’ve been reading my periodic articles on workplace writing and communication techniques and strategies in ‘Communicate Confidently!’, you’ve encountered one of my favorite rants – ‘Specific beats Vague’. So, whenever you have a choice between a vague word, like ‘several’ and a specific word like ‘four’, opt for the specific word.