How To Be Listened To
Listening is like putting money in a relationship bank account. I believe I first heard that from 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.
Most of us know we’d rather have more money in the relationship bank account with our wife, or with our kids, or with our clients. But rather than listening and being interested in the other person, we tend to speak and do our best to be interesting.
But it’s actually the opposite. Being interesting doesn’t put money in the bank—it makes a withdrawal.
Being interested is how you make a deposit.
I’m not saying that relationships have actual ledgers. I’m simply saying that you need to give before you can receive. You need to die before you can rise again.
That’s just the way the world works.
I’ve found that whenever I’m not feeling understood or listened to, it’s because I’m not listening enough.
When a listener speaks, people listen.
What do you think?
Joseph