Currently we are offering a free Behaviors and Communication Assessment that assesses your ability and gives you tips on how to communicate better with others on-line. Contact me at tom@tomborg.com to request your free assessment.
“You are not listening to me!”Have you ever heard this statement made to you in what you thought was a good conversation? Chances are if you are like most people, you have. Why? What
happens to bring about this kind of a reaction?
There are some common barriers to good communication. Let’s take a look at one of them: being distracted and not being able to focus on the person with whom you are interfacing.
There are several factors that can distract you and steal your complete attention from another person. Your iPhone vibrating, another person walking by, your computer sound indicating a new email, something important you just remembered, to name just a few.
Once we are distracted, our body language and tone of voice tends to give us away. The person we are engaged with picks up on it and they begin to resent it. As the saying goes, “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”.
Here is one way to remedy this predicament. When you are in a conversation with another person, make a commitment to focus on the whole person. Listen to their words; study their facial and bodily expressions. If you are on the phone with them, turn away from your computer and focus on their voice on the other end of the line. Listen to their tone and the words they are using. When appropriate, ask clarifying questions.
By using this approach, you will create the kind of conversation that will ultimately draw the response, “thanks for listening to me, I appreciate it.”
What are your thoughts? I would like to hear your comments.
Currently we are offering a free Behaviors and Communication Assessment that assesses your ability and gives you tips on how to communicate better with others on-line. Contact me at tom@tomborg.com to request your free assessment.
