fbpx

Power in Listening

By Stephen Garber

“There’s a lot of difference between listening and hearing.”

— G.K. Chesterton, English writer, poet and philosopher

Many of us think we listen without really having to try. And perhaps we do. But quite often, though, we are merely hearing—picking up sound through our ears. Listening is a different activity altogether. It requires focus, concentration and effort. This isn’t about social listening, the back-and-forth of conversation with little focus on the speaker’s experience or concerns. What we are talking about is listening deeply and powerfully—a variety rare yet so essential for success in our lives.

This is a conscious activity. It requires us to engage with someone else, putting aside our own concerns or agenda and giving our total focus. Most of us aren’t taught to function in this way. We are far more likely to focus on our agenda—what we want and need.

Deep and powerful listening can be learned, but it can’t be faked. If we don’t believe in the value of listening, people will see through us, sensing our impatience and insincerity. When we recognize and value the incredible benefits of a deeper level of listening, we give ourselves a transformative tool to build our relationships and deliver results.

As Bernard Ferrari writes in his book, Power Listening: Mastering the Most Critical Business Skill of All, this kind of listening is at the front end of decision-making. It gives us better information on which to base our decisions. It makes people feel included, valued and respected.

Power listeners are “other-directed” instead of focused on self. Rather than hijacking a conversation, they strive to be fully in the moment with the speaker.

They seek to understand the thoughts, feelings and views of the speaker, rather than assuming they are the same as their own. They build rapport through eye contact and body language, allowing silence, warmth and caring, rather than questions, to draw the speaker out.

They listen as a receiver, rather than as a critic. They are neither racing ahead in their own mind to find a solution, nor are they interpreting what they hear as good or bad, right or wrong, stupendous or stupid. Instead, they check their perceptions of what the speaker is saying, meaning, thinking and feeling.

Ironically, because they seek to understand the other person rather than instantly responding from their own perspective, they create a climate that is more conducive to healthy debate and finding a solution or agreement.

Taking the concept of deep listening out of the realms of theory and into a fast-paced, pressured business environment might seem almost impossible. It isn’t. Neither is it required daily. Half the battle is becoming aware of when we must listen at this level because we recognize the consequences of not doing so.

This does not mean allowing people to talk endlessly unchecked. It might, however, mean allowing the person you often interrupt—because they keep repeating the same thing—to actually have their say. If you truly hear this person, and he or she knows it, they no longer need to battle to be heard, and your influence over how they shape their communication grows considerably. Everyone wins. ♦

Stephen Garber is director of Third Level Ltd. Contact him at 561.752.5505 or sgarber@thirdlevel.com.

You May Also Like
Reaching Out

I know that Stephen Garber knows people. The president of Third Level is a seasoned expert on change management, relationship building and quality-of-life issues. He is an international executive coach,

Read More
Stephen Garber
SOUTH FLORIDA BUSINESS & WEALTH GOES 2.0

This is the time and this is the page when the new editor-in-chief typically would tell you to get ready for a new SFBW experience—but since you’ve seen the cover,

Read More
Are Your Salespeople Taking Shortcuts?

Connor, a software sales rep, had been having a rough day. He’d been bombarded with questions from several customers and gotten behind on work he needed to finish before the

Read More
COVID and the Commercial Sector

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text] For South Florida’s vigorous commercial real estate sector, there is a Grand Canyon-size fissure between market conditions on March 1 and

Read More
Other Posts
96-Year-Old Boca Helping Hands Volunteer Brings Happiness to Many

The nonprofit organization provides food, medical support and financial assistance to empower local individuals and families.

Read More
Art Polacheck
Upcoming JA Career Exploration Fair Seeks Vendors to Exhibit

It will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday.

Read More
JA Career
Neighbors 4 Neighbors Hosts Endless Summer Splash Event

The nonprofit organization is located in Doral.

Read More
Neighbors 4 Neighbors
Transworld M&A Brokers Sale of PCMA to Intelvio

Peter Berg (pictured), Managing Director, and Leanne Erwin (pictured). Vice President, advised on the transaction.

Read More
Transworld M&A

Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.