If you’re going to focus on improving your connecting, focus on listening.
For many months I’ve been focused on improving my listening. To that end, one option I give people for our connecting conversations is what I call a Walk & Talk.
It’s exactly as it sounds: we walk while we talk, via phone with headphones or earbuds so hands are free to move with the rest of our body.
It’s fun, helpful, and really helps us tap into listening. Listening – truly and intentionally – is ‘an act of love’ according to sound expert Julian Treasure. Totally agree.
- When we learn how to listen, we hear so many new elements because we’re focusing our energy on auditory, vs visual or other sense. We remove the queue from sight (if we have it) and must pay attention differently.
- When we listen to listen, we hear more and better. Comprehension rises, emotions are better experienced and understood. Questions get better too, symptomatic of real listening.
- Leaders are listeners. Building and honing our listening is a top skill for leaders, emerging and advancing leaders too. Whether you lead yourself, a team, group, club, organization, global company, family… in every case, boosting listening skills boosts leadership too.
Less screen time is better. More listening is better.
Boost your connecting and leadership skills simultaneously by walking & talking. When you do, your physical health experiences a boost too!
Look at your calendar today: choose 3 meetings you want to shift from screen to walk & talk.
Reschedule. Listen. Engage. Connect better.
#2 in this article in the Harvard Business review extols this idea too