The Power of Listening & Tips on How to Do it Better

Listening. It’s one of the most underrated skills people can have. Too often we tune out or passively listen because we are multitasking, distracted by the million other things in our brains, or we’re already mentally crafting a response. Recently, I have made it my goal to be intentional about clearing my mind and paying close attention to what someone else is saying and I have to admit the results are pretty incredible. When you take the time to actively engage in conversations the outcome is so much more productive and you can even learn a thing or two. I shared my tips on how to become a better listener with Tiffany Dufu’s The Cru, a peer mentorship platform. Here are a few highlights:

> Ask questions you genuinely want to know the answer to.

> Show everyone the same level of listening respect, from the CEO to the intern.

> Meditate! Meditation helps train you to calm your mind so you can really focus on what the other person is saying.

Don’t keep small talk small. Ask questions, listen to the answers, give your full attention, and you may be surprised where the conversations will take you.

If you’re interested in having me speak at your organization about topics just like this one, please visit my All American Speakers Bureau page and contact Maddy McPeak at maddy@aaehq.com.