If you get your ears syringed does it make you a better listener?

Apparently I have very narrow ear canals, and periodically they need attention.  When I find myself not hearing people consistently, that is my signal to toddle off and see the nurse.  When I come out it is as if a veil has been drawn back between me and the rest of the world.  However, does hearing better equate to being a better listener?  Whilst it certainly helps, it isn’t the same thing at all.

Listening is about giving your attention to the other person and what they are saying.  You listen with more than just your ears as you have to use your eyes too.  This both affects how they feel and gives you lot more data about them and how they are feeling.   You can also pick up information  at a more subliminal level about their energy.  Whilst you can learn to listen better I really think that an awful lot of this comes from who you are and what you care about.

Today would be a great day to give someone a really good listening to…

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”    Robert McCloskey

“To listen well, is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well, and is as essential to all true conversation”   Chinese Proverbs

Tags: attention, hearing, listening

This entry was posted on Friday, June 5th, 2009 at 14:01 and is filed under Business Change, Hints, Tips & Techniques, Personal Change. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.