Habit number 5 of highly effective people is Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood. This calls for completely listening to another person’s concerns and not giving advice before you understand a person and their situation. Communication is key, more importantly, it’s how you communicate that’s key and it’s necessary when it comes to building relationships and working with others to get things done. With communication being so important you have to operate in a different manner when you talk to people.
How important is it for you to listen to your clients? I know that I really have to listen to people when they talk and I have to come from a place that allows me to really hear what they’re saying. Listening in that way allows me to hear things that they aren’t telling me. It allows me to be able to get an understanding of the things that are hindering them and to draw conclusions about how they’re operating. Are you listening to your clients to hear what’s said and remains unsaid? Listening with the intent of understanding allows you to see what’s really going on and to respond accordingly.