When you ask a question, do you wait for an answer? Do you listen for answer? Do you hear it?
Some of you know that last year I learned about simplifying life. Everything - mind, body and soul.
I am often asked questions and seldom have time to answer before someone or something gives me a chance to actually reply. It drives me NUTS! If you're not going to listen to my answer, don't ask me the question. I'm about ready to stop talking altogether.
Someone just asked me if I had done something. When I answered, they couldn't hear me because 1 - they think so fast their brain had already switched gears and 2 - they moved so their clothing made noise and prevented them from hearing my answer.
That got me thinking about simplifying the way we communicate.
When you talk to others, what else are you doing? Are you making eye contact with them? Is your face turned to your audience?
What about when you are listening? Do you stop your mind to focus on what is being said instead of what you want to say next? Is your body still so there is no rustling distractions from clothing or noise from footfalls or something being dropped? Does the person on the other end of the phone have your full attention or is your focus diverted by products on a shelf or kids pulling on you?
Yes, we are all guilty of this - even me. And i know there are external noises we have mo control over, like machinery nearby or a loudspeaker or fan blowing. But I'm making a concerted effort to do a better job of communicating. If I don't hear all of a question, I'll repeat the part I did hear so they know I was doing my best to hear them.
How many times do you have to ask someone to repeat a question?
