Listen with Purpose
Listening is an important skill in all communication. Listening is not just receiving the message. That’s hearing. When you listen, you actively interpret the message, you give feedback and you take part in the conversation. Good listening is very intensive.
To make your listening more effective and efficient you should have a purpose while listening. Your purpose determines what you focus on, how you interpret what is being said and how you respond. Your purpose drives the conversation.
Some examples of purposes:
- I want to make my partner feel understood
- I want to distill three positive personality traits of this person
- I want to find facts that will help make the business case
- I want to understand my opponents position in this negotiation
With your purpose you have powerful filter and you’ll be able to get more from your communication.
