Are You Willing to Have Your Mind Changed?

(June 2022) Are you willing to have your mind changed?

If only we listened with the intent to just listen. Unfortunately, we have been hard-wired with the intent to reply - which doesn't make us that effective at listening at all.

Neuroscience tells us we speak at an average of 125 words/min, listen at 400 words/min and think at 900 words/min. If so, how do we quieten our inner problem-solver and stop from jumping in and fixing. If we think at 900 but speak at 125 words how do we know our team-member has actually said what they really want to say? Do they need time to get to the real point of their discussion? Do they actually know what the real problem is? Without a coaching conversation and a few key questions then we are just guessing.

To be able to think outside the box we need the input of many perspectives - this should be your superpower. True listening starts with the willingness to have our mind changed – not to be ‘right’ or perceived as the smartest in the room.

When we close our mouth, open our mindset, and invite others’ opinions, perceptions & experiences we are creating the best environment - a learning environment . Simultaneously, you are motivating your team by showing them you a.) value their opinion, b.) they have a voice, and c.) they get to make a difference in the business.

Surely the world would benefit from more learning environments and less opinion-based environments? So let’s work on demonstrating respect, attention, and promote learning environments by learning the art of really listening. (June 2022)