TASK #26

June 24th--July 1st

Shut Up And Listen

No man ever listened himself out of a job.  Calvin Coolidge

Men are bombastic creatures, not accustomed to listening to anyone, ESPECIALLY if the person we are expected to listen to is of the other sex, a child of either sex, or any peer who
is too timid, or just well-mannered enough, not to voice his opinion at the top of his lungs.

I am not a listener. I have been known to stop talking during a conversation, but that isn't the same as listening. To be a listener you have to hear what someone else says. And it has to register, make an impression, resonate--whether you agree or not.

So I set about to learn about listening. After much trial and error, here is what I have to share:

1. Look at the person who's talking to you. I have a tendency to look around when someone is talking to me, especially if there is a tv in the room, and I never look at the person talking to me if there are sports on the tv.

2. Once looking, engage your brain.

3. Don't talk 'til the other person has stopped talking.

4. Before you talk, think about what you're going to say. And make sure what you say is directly related to what they said.

5. If you didn't understand what they said, ask them to repeat it. Don't pretend that you understand.

6. Speak, then shut up and repeat.

TASK:

Once a day, every day this week, have a conversation with someone in which you make a determined effort to listen. Then open your notebook and down WHO the conversation was with and WHAT was discussed.

Questions or comments? Write to Joedoebula@gmail.com