I want to be a better listener!
After getting off the phone with my friend, and listening to all her trials and tribulations, the conversation was suddenly over. I never had a chance to say one word. Nothing about myself. It may sound selfish, but I wanted to be part of the conversation. When we hung up, I felt empty, alone and like I didn’t matter.
That made me wonder – have I done this to others? That thought scared me so I decided to make a pledge to myself, right here and right now, to be a better listener.
To get started, I’m going to play this little game with myself. The next time I’m in a conversation, instead of thinking about what to say next, I’m going to look at the conversation as a learning experience. A time to discover something new. Maybe there’s a new restaurant in town I haven’t heard about, or a business contact I can be introduced to. Who knows? I may even make a new friend.
I pledge to listen with curiosity and stay focused. Yes, that’s exactly what I’m going to do starting right now. I believe it will take some practice, but I’m willing to try. So if we should meet in the near future, and have a conversation, let me know how I’m doing.
Categories: Personal Development Positive Attitude Positive Mindset Professional Development Professional Speaker
Tags: Better Listener, Communication Skills, Listening Skills, Positive Attitude, Staying Focused
