October 2021

Be A Better Listener Today! By Jack Klemeyer M ost of us are pretty good at talking, but many of us have challenges when it comes to listening. One sage said, “The only reason we listen is because we know we get to talk next.” Here are some tips that will improve your listening immediately by simply changing your listening behavior. First, Names! Repeat the person’s name when you first meet him or her. This will make you listen first and talk second. It’s best to have a good working strategy to become a better listener and repeating a person’s name will help you do just that. Don’t hesitate to ask a person how to say their name or to repeat their name a second time, especially if the name is unusual. When you do this, you are showing concern for the other person, which is an important aspect of listening. Use the person’s name in your response. “Is this your first time here, Suzanne?” Second, Ask a question! When you are anticipating making a comment on what a person has said, ask a question instead. This will keep you listening longer, and often the added information will help you make a higher quality contribution to the conversation. Get information before you give information. Third, Pause! Don’t rush to answer the phone when it rings. Pause a moment so that you can be mentally ready to listen to the person calling you rather than thinking about what you were doing when the phone rang. Taking a few extra seconds to refocus and think will make you a