Several months ago, a CEO I’ll call Elana, who is deaf, approached me for coaching. As we talked through her leadership skills and organizational political landscape, I quickly realized she was a fantastic listener. As a deaf person, Elana is more intentional about how she listens. In our meetings, Elana and I talk at a slower pace. Elana doesn’t interrupt, and I pause whenever I notice Elana taking notes so that she has the chance to read my lips. We tend to have less confusion because Elana is quick to ask for a clarification if she doesn’t understand a word.
Meetings Would Go Faster If People Took the Time to Listen
Too often, meetings are filled with miscommunication, cross-talk, and conflict. But by improving your listening skills, you can make these meetings more effective. Specifically, by listening slowly, you can be more intentional with your communication, get to the heart of your meetings more quickly, and even finish meetings faster. First, make sure you understand what’s being said. Give your counterpart your full attention, and truly digest what they have to say. Next, interpret what’s been said. What does this mean, based on the purpose of your discussion, what the speaker cares most about, or what’s been said before? Third, verify what’s been said. Don’t assume you understand; confirm what was said by paraphrasing what you think you heard. Finally, consider how your point of view relates to what’s been said.