Get the Wax Out of Your Ears & LISTEN

by | August 24, 2018 | Leadership, Training

When my kids were little and not listening to me I would shout, “Get the wax out of your ears and LISTEN!” (They heard this a lot, unfortunately.)

Every year, about 12 million Americans head to their doctors with something known as “excessive cerumen.” That's a really gross-sounding way to say they've got some serious earwax problems. Did you know you can scrape all that wax out of your ear, like you do the last scraps of the peanut butter from the jar, and still not be able to hear effectively? Earwax is actually there for protection, to keep your ear canal clean. So poor listening is actually not earwax problem.  It’s earLACKS problem.

 

Listen Up!

Various studies show we spend 80% of our waking hours communicating, and 45% of that time listening. While listening is a large part of our daily routine, research also confirms that most individuals are inept listeners.

Why are we such poor listeners?

It is not because we have wax as thick as peanut butter in our ears. It is because our ear lacks training. In school we are taught to read, write and speak, but not how to effectively listen. Yet, listening is the key to all effective communication. Without this crucial skill, messages are often misunderstood, communication breaks down, and emotions heat up.

Good listening skills can lead to:

  • Better customer satisfaction
  • Greater productivity
  • Higher quality
  • Improved safety
  • More respect
  • Increased creativity
  • Innovation

Many successful Smart & Savvy leaders and entrepreneurs credit their success to effective listening skills. Richard Branson frequently quotes listening as one of the main factors behind the success of Virgin. Effective listening is a skill that underpins all positive human relationships. And, yet, it is a skill that is virtually ignored.

 

Six Listening Tips

Following are six Positive & Possible tips to increase listening effectiveness. They form an acrostic for LISTEN.

 

LEARN 

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply,” says Steven Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. By listening to understand we learn what motivates our employees to perform and our customers to buy. Listening is the catalyst that fosters mutual understanding, and provides us insight into people’s needs and wants so that we can connect with them in a meaningful way. Influential Smart & Savvy leaders listen and limit misunderstandings with both employees and customers.

INQUIRE

Good listeners ask clarifying questions like:

  • I heard you say _____. Is that correct?
  • If I understand correctly, your concern is _____?
  • What else can you tell me about _____?
  • Could you give me some insight on _____?
  • What do you think (or feel) about _____?
  • Correct me if I’m wrong. Did I hear you say _____?

Influential Smart & Savvy leaders confirm what they heard and minimize mistakes.

 

STOP TALKING

Mark Twain said, “If we were supposed to talk more than we listen, we would have two tongues and one ear.” It is impossible to hear others when our lips are moving. Did you notice the words “listen” and “silent” contain the same letters? To effectively listen, we must be courteous enough to let others complete their thoughts. Influential Smart & Savvy leaders are comfortable with silence and gain insight.

 

TIME

In today’s high-tech, high-speed, high-stress world, the deepest need of the human heart is to be understood, but few people slow down and take the time necessary to truly hear the heart. Genuine listening is a rare and special gift - the gift of time. A pause, even a long pause, does not necessarily mean the speaker has finished. Be patient and let the speaker continue in their own time. Sometimes it takes time to formulate what to say and how to say it. Never interrupt or finish a sentence. Time builds relationships, respect, and results. Smart & Savvy leaders take time to truly listen and increase trust.

 

EMPATHIZE 

In every organization, there will be individuals with differing perspectives and opinions. Opposing values, traditions, and expectations are as varied as the characters that carry them to the workplace. When we care enough to take off our shoes, and take a walk in their shoes we begin to see the world as they see it. Though we may not agree, empathetic listeners are open to others’ point of view. Empathy is the channel that creates safety and mutual respect. Smart & Savvy leaders listen with not only their ears but also their heart and establish rapport.

 

NON-JUDGMENTAL

Competent and confident communicators are impartial. They don’t let habits or mannerisms distract from what the speaker is really saying. They are aware of their own biases, focus on what is being said, and try not to draw incorrect conclusions or inaccurate assumptions – warranted or not – about what the other person means. They are astute at separating fact from opinion. By sticking with the facts, they earn the right to present controversial information and are heard. Smart & Savvy leaders listen without being judgmental and earn respect.

 

Listening effectively sets apart the best communicators from the mediocre ones. It differentiates the most influential leaders from the least influential leaders. It is a skill that can be learned like reading, writing and speaking. It just takes a little training, awareness, and lots of practice.

 

Since listening is a large part of our daily routine, and research also confirms that most individuals are inept listeners, it’s time to make Smart, Savvy Change.  To bring an interactive listening workshop to your organization please contact my team.