We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. – Epictetus
I just listened to the book, I Hear You: The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships. The book is a good reminder about what it takes to be a good listener. So often we are not really listening, but merely waiting to reply. The book reminds us to stop, think and try to understand where another person is coming from before responding to them.
The author encourages us, to listen and validate the other person’s point of view before responding to them. Let the other person know that you can understand where they are coming from. You don’t need to necessarily agree with the other person’s point of view, but you should try to understand where they are coming from. Seek first to understand, then be understood.
The book gives a lot of great tips about how to listen well and how to validate the other person’s point of view. Highly recommend!
Aaron Olson 