THE ART OF LISTENING ▪️
I have been speaking a lot on the lost art of listening in the recent months. Somehow, we’ve become a species caught up in our own personal stories and carefully curated social media profiles. A never-ending cycle of content in order to ensure that we’re heard. That we matter.
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When you take a look at the news, interview shows, some podcasts, YouTube, twitter, Facebook, etc. most people are talking. If in conversation, once one person pauses, another one begins. We do not stop to consider another person opinion, point of view, or story. We push our own.
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In my personal life, it’s quite rare that I meet people who ask questions TO LISTEN, and not ones who ask questions TO BE HEARD. Don’t even get me started on dating. When did we become so self-consumed? So self-indulgent in hearing ourselves talk? In which case, what’s the point in being around people if we’re essentially having conversations with ourselves? When did we stop listening? When did we stop learning?
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During last week’s UF Men’s CIRCLE, I brought up Larry King. For those in attendance, you’ll know how special of a moment this was for me. For the rest of you, as a young girl up to present day when I do a deep dive on YouTube, I take notes on Larry Kings interviewing skills, mainly on the way in which he listens to his guests. I believe it’s part of the reason why he was able to get some of the hardest gets: people want to be heard, understood, and seen. He made his guests feel like they mattered. Like he was talking with them, and not him talking at them.
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It was only fitting that I found this gem of a quote this week: “I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening.”
I invite you to do the same. It’s a game-changer in so many incredible ways.