24 May 2013 Listening Challenge – May
On January 4, I recommended making one small change per month this year to become one of the best listeners in your organization and reap the rewards of better collaboration, higher trust, and improved teamwork.
If you’ve been participating, then pat yourself on the back because you are already one-third of the way there. If not, please join us now. It’s never too late. Just jump in and enjoy the adventure.
The challenge for April was to “Suspend judgment. Don’t think about whether you agree or disagree while the person is still talking. This leads to thinking about what you will say in response while the other person is talking, which is the opposite of listening. If you feel your mind formulating a response while he or she is still talking, bring your attention back and say, ‘Could you repeat that?’”
How did you do? Pop over to the 2013 Listening Challenge blog post (http://jenniferselbylong.com/?p=573) and let me know how it went.
Now, your listening challenge for May, if you are willing to accept it, is a simple one:
“Ask questions to draw out observable data. Observable data is exactly as it sounds – data that is concrete and can be observed. This does not include interpretations or opinions.”
Let me know how it’s going, share your thoughts, and ask your questions any time at: http://jenniferselbylong.com/?p=573.