The Major Flaw in Our Modern Communication Culture
The sometimes overwhelming opportunities for us to communicate that the modern era has created are also undermining one of the most crucial aspects of our daily personal and professional communication.
That is our ability to listen.
With an increasing number of social media channels, offline and online networking and social events, texting et al, we are being swept along with a strong and exciting current of communication possibilities. This means we are transmitting more than we probably ever did. And therein lies the problem. Transmitting and not listening.
Particularly in a recession, people in business are even keener to tell everyone, subtly and unsubtly, what they and their business have to offer and how their target market will benefit. Just read Twitter. And it's as bad offline as it is online.
I remember being at an event where there were a lot of well known people. I spoke with quite a few of them. I asked a question. They talked...and talked some more. And so it went on. Only one of them asked me a question. But this was done out of a sense of social duty rather than a genuine desire to connect when they became suddenly self-conscious about talking about themselves for so long.
In this situation, there are still too many people who feel the need to expound based on their position or ego or past or present achievement or a combination of some or all of these. What often lies at the bottom of this is a need to boost or re-boost their confidence that may have faded with the passing of time or talent.
I learned a lot by listening to them. But they also could have learned something from me - like how someone asking questions and listening can sometimes make you reveal more than you want to!
So, if you transmit to someone or a group of people for too long, without attempting to listen to them as well, then they'll not want to tune into you again. And you will have lost not only an opportunity for them to have transmitted something flattering about you to others, but also therefore the chance to enjoy some more business and worthwhile relationships.
END OF TRANSMISSION!
YOUR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS ARE TRULY MORE THAN WELCOME
With an increasing number of social media channels, offline and online networking and social events, texting et al, we are being swept along with a strong and exciting current of communication possibilities. This means we are transmitting more than we probably ever did. And therein lies the problem. Transmitting and not listening.
Particularly in a recession, people in business are even keener to tell everyone, subtly and unsubtly, what they and their business have to offer and how their target market will benefit. Just read Twitter. And it's as bad offline as it is online.
I remember being at an event where there were a lot of well known people. I spoke with quite a few of them. I asked a question. They talked...and talked some more. And so it went on. Only one of them asked me a question. But this was done out of a sense of social duty rather than a genuine desire to connect when they became suddenly self-conscious about talking about themselves for so long.
In this situation, there are still too many people who feel the need to expound based on their position or ego or past or present achievement or a combination of some or all of these. What often lies at the bottom of this is a need to boost or re-boost their confidence that may have faded with the passing of time or talent.
I learned a lot by listening to them. But they also could have learned something from me - like how someone asking questions and listening can sometimes make you reveal more than you want to!
So, if you transmit to someone or a group of people for too long, without attempting to listen to them as well, then they'll not want to tune into you again. And you will have lost not only an opportunity for them to have transmitted something flattering about you to others, but also therefore the chance to enjoy some more business and worthwhile relationships.
END OF TRANSMISSION!
YOUR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS ARE TRULY MORE THAN WELCOME
posted: 30 Sep 11