➔    Here’s another one of those concepts that is based on communication but really isn’t anything new. And with the avalanche of communications options at our fingertips today, you would think that our communication skills have improved. Or not.

    So much goes into effective communication. Surprise, surprise. Very little of it is new. Surprise, surprise. Refine your message. Choose the right channel, etc., etc. But do you practice what you preach?

    One aspect of communication, however, that receives nary enough attention today is another one of the basics. It’s known as listening. And there is a lot more there than what meets the eye… or ear.

    It’s so much more than just hearing what the other person says. Remember Simon & Garfunkel, “People hearing without listening.” There was a reason that song was called “The Sounds of Silence.” It harkens to one of our favorite concepts: pay attention!

    Pay attention to what the other people are saying, how they’re saying it (verbally and otherwise) and pay attention to what they’re not saying. That could be just as important.

    This is especially true in business. One of the cornerstones of successful business is to “listen to the customer.” Do that and they will tell you each and every time what they’re looking for and what they’re willing to pay for.

    Effective communication goes far beyond simply avoiding misunderstanding. Are you as focused on listening to what they’re saying as they are on saying it? Are you constantly interrupting, or do you give them a chance to speak their minds? Could you paraphrase or summarize what they just said? If you can’t, you weren’t listening.

    Contemplating the importance of listening is a very deep well to be sure. You can stick your toe in the water here if you’re interested. (And if you don’t have the time to listen to the full 15 minutes, skip ahead to roughly the 13-minute mark.) There’s a lot there to hear.

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