Don't offer adviceDon't offer advice until the person asks for it. People often make the assumption that when someone is talking about an issue they want to be told what to do. However, many times a person just wants to express themselves and feel heard. Show that your engaged verballyMuttering a generic hmmm, every now … Continue reading How to be a better listener
Tag: listening
Bored of anxieties
It's been said that reassurance is something that we can't get enough of. It's strange to think about how we seek reassurance to keep our fears at bay but each time we get it we crave more and more often finding ourselves feeling stuck without it. When you sit and watch a persons anxieties and … Continue reading Bored of anxieties
Figuring out where things went wrong
If you find yourself regularly having conversations that don't go as planned, in the sense that the outcome you intended wasn't achieved (or you just end up getting frustrated) it's worth taking the time to figure out where things went wrong. Sometimes, it is a simple case of two people with different perspectives not being … Continue reading Figuring out where things went wrong
Worth listening to
If someone asks you for your opinion it means that they value what you have to say. It means they consider you to be someone worth listening to. That is something you earn, it's not a given.
Running out of patience
Being patient is a hopeful thing. It's often done hoping that sooner or later things will change. Sure you can scream and shout for what you want and to be heard by others. But often you just end up being ignored. People will focus on the fact that you scream and shout, not the reason … Continue reading Running out of patience
You should take your own advice
One of the easiest ways to gain trust is by doing exactly what you tell others to do. People are much less likely to listen to what you say if it's not what you do. And that's why I'm careful about the advice I give and the words I share, the truth is I'm still … Continue reading You should take your own advice
Why shouting might not get the message across
The talker may assume the louder my voice the more they'll understand what I'm saying, or maybe they feel like you're not listening so they have no choice but to shout. Nobody likes being shouted at and so the listener instead of focusing on the message will focus on the fact that you're shouting and … Continue reading Why shouting might not get the message across
Telling stories and being heard
Growing up I had quite a few occasions where when I would try to speak up about something it was either dismissed or I could clearly tell that the other person wasn't listening. Through that I learnt to talk less and be more closed off. Recently, I realised that I had carried this childhood experience … Continue reading Telling stories and being heard
The Daily Gemm 