Monday, September 13, 2010

Are you a good listener? by Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa



An old Italian proverb says, “From listening comes wisdom, from speaking comes repentance.”  In today’s technological world, listening is not practiced as much as it should be.  However, a true servant leader will listen first because true listening builds strength in others.  As Robert Greenleaf said, “In saying what I have in mind, will I really improve the silence?” 

Listening can be described as an attitude toward other people.  You may think that you are a good listener, but do the people around you agree or disagree?  Has anyone ever looked at you with a disappointed expression and said, “Are you listening to me?”   Let’s face it, being a good listener is not as easy as it sounds.  We’ve all drifted off into our own thoughts when we were supposed to be paying attention to what someone else was saying.  Maybe it is because the subject matter is boring or the person speaking is just not interesting.  Or, perhaps, we are distracted with our own personal issues.  Whatever it is, we all could use some tips on how to be better listeners.

If we can become better listeners, we will retain more information, spend less time trying to recall information, improve our quality of work, and strengthen our relationships.  It takes concentration and determination to be an active listener.  Old habits are hard to break, and if the listening habits you have developed over time are as many people’s are, then there’s a lot of habit breaking to do.  Be deliberate with your listening and remind yourself constantly that your goal is to truly hear what the other person is saying. 

So, are you a good listener?  I think we can all use some tips to become a better listener, don’t you?  So, what do you say, let’s work on using active listening today to become a better communicator and improve your workplace productivity and relationships.  We all should be working to become a more servant leader in our homes and our workplaces.  The following five daily exercises will help you become a more effective listener as you travel down the road to becoming a more effect servant leader.

Lesson #1 – Pay Attention!
                        Listen more than you speak
                        Stay focused on what the other person is saying
                        Look at the speaker directly
                        Put aside distracting thoughts
                        Stop doing other things

Lesson #2 – Provide Feedback
                        Focus on using body language
                        Make eye contact
                        Uncross your arms
                        Nod occasionally
                        Turn your shoulders so that you are facing the speaker

Lesson #3 – Defer Judgment
                        Be open minded
                        Allow the speaker to finish
                        Don’t interrupt with counter-arguments
                        Validate the speaker
                        Share in the speaker’s emotions and feelings

Lesson #4 – Respond Appropriately
                        Resist the urge to dominate the conversation
                        Ask questions to clarify certain points
                        Be candid, open, and honest in your responses
                        Ask open ended questions to promote further discussions
                        Don’t say, “I told you so.” Or “I knew that.”

Lesson #5 – Exercise Your Mind
                        Realize that listening is hard work
                        Recognize your own biases
                        Develop an appetite for hearing a variety of presentations
                        Prepare to listen by having an open mind and a positive 
                           mental attitude
                        Research topics of concern in your household or industry


Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa is a mother, educator, and wife living in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  She is a PhD student with Our Lady of the Lake University in Leadership Studies.  Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the CEO of The Main Thing Leadership Coaching Firm and is currently researching the relationship between the leadership of the high school principal and the high school drop out rate.  This article is an excerpt from the self published book, Are You A Ten?  The Ten Characteristics of a Servant Leader.   For ordering information, please contact Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa at Barb313679@aol.com.

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