In his excellent book Listening with the Third Ear, the analyst Theodor Reik makes the point that sometimes people who seem to be seeking advice or actually looking for permission to do something they’ve already decided to do. You will know that’s happening when someone who comes to you with advice already has a solution, […]
Communication, Listening
When you are in a leadership role, you are frequently in the position of giving other people critical feedback. And in criticism, as in comedy, timing is everything. When you’re giving constructive feedback (including positive feedback, although I’m focusing on constructive criticism below), try to give that feedback as soon as possible. Here’s why: The […]
Coaching, constructive feedback, Feedback, Listening
It’s amazing how much the presence of just one person can influence a team. If the person has a negative influence, teams are often relieved when they leave and may regroup without much help from leaders. It’s much trickier, however, when a highly respected, well-liked employee leaves. Depending on their reason for leaving, employees may […]
Feedback, Popular employee, Team
If you’re like me, you have probably found that the people with whom you feel closest are also the best listeners. And although outstanding listeners do it seemingly effortlessly, as a recent article in Entrepreneur points out, there are some common issues that tend to characterize ineffective listening. Here are just three of the ones […]
MY FRIEND JONAH DOESN’T like conference rooms. That’s why he’s held client meetings at Wegman’s. And Barnes and Noble. And a nearby donut shop. He meets with his staff at a local Texas Roadhouse they call by a code name: “Meeting Room T.” In fact, Jonah would rather meet anywhere than in a corporate conference room, and […]
A word is worth one coin; silence is worth two. – The Talmud Years ago, I had a colleague at work who planted his Jumbotron-sized computer monitor on his desk so it blocked his view of anyone sitting across from him. He might as well have taped a sign on the back of the monitor that […]
I’m all about listening. And I’ve found that the more I focus on it, the better I do it. I’ve also noticed, as I’m sure you have, too, that the more gadgets we have and are paying attention to, the less attentively and effectively we listen. It’s not uncommon for me to talk with people […]
I’m all about listening. And I’ve found that the more I focus on it, the better I do it. I’ve also noticed, as I’m sure you have, too, that the more gadgets we have and are paying attention to, the less attentively and effectively we listen. It’s not uncommon for me to talk with people […]
