Silence as the Teacher

Shhhh...

Have you ever noticed when you lose power how quiet it becomes? Even better, have you noticed what you you're in silence?

A recent conversation with a friend has shifted focus away from what we say in the form of a written word and placed a very heavy emphasis on what is not being said. Yes the things we don't say...you have to listen for them!

There is a very strong likeness to silence and listening. There is an equal opposite to just hearing and actually listening. Going about our day, or night if you will, our surroundings are filled with sounds that we hear, subconsciously even. Hence, my opening sentence when you lose power, you don' really know what you were hearing until it isn't there anymore.

Listen...

If you communicate with others through written words there can be an enormous impact on the delivery of your message by what is left out...a fill in the blank kind of moment!

Today with technology being what it is an all, the age of instant communication, the power of what we say or don't say becomes magnified.

With written words we even go as far as applying our own "tone" to who we think a message is being delivered to us. This can be dangerous if we don't take the time to actually "listen" to the message. Not to confuse anyone but, most of us have been a part of this repeat game where you recite a sentence to a person and then it is passed along to 10 people. Then the last person repeats it back to the first person.

It might look like this..." The big black dog rode in the back of the red pickup truck with two flat tires"!

By the time it gets back to the first person it may sound like this..." A dog was driving a truck with no tires"!

Listening is hard...hearing is easy!

Clarify...

When people send us a message, if they were standing in front of us, would they be delivering the same messaging we "heard" as the receiver? Maybe, maybe not! It is certainly OK to ask clarifying questions to make sure what we think we heard is actually what is being said!

Listening is a skill that flies under the radar, but right up there with trying to be nonjudgmental...another topic for another day.

Here in the WA community there are so many tools available to our members which help us to be better listeners. Live Chat, Live Events, PM's, Comments on you Blog, all the Training, even sections on "top Helpers" in different categories.

You Win!

There are so many members out here that have been through many of the challenges you are facing. Don't get discouraged... Listen to What They Have to Say!

Best,

Gerry