When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But when you listen, you may learn something new.
—The 14th Dali Lama, the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibetan Buddhism
Image from Unsplash by Anastasia Badun
What is your talking-to-listening ratio in your personal and professional life?
Where do you go out of your way to demonstrate and prove your smarts by regurgitating the latest news and current events?
Where might you even participate in spreading gossip within your communities to show that you are in the know?
Shifting our focus from our mouth to our ears seems far more valuable and interesting.
An important factor, however, is to be selective in what and to whom we listen!
EXERCISE:
A coaching phrase I learned many years ago can be summed up in two words. “Questions Only.”
When we apply this concept in our conversations with others, we are far more likely to learn something new.
Please give it a try and let me know what you discover.