How Can I Get 1% Better Today?
The answer – Listen, not like a Doctor.
A Harvard professor wrote a book in which they had conducted a study and asked the
question… How long does a Doctor listen to you describe your issues before they interrupt you?
If you said 18 seconds, you would be correct. 18 seconds before, on average, the doctor
interrupts you to tell you what’s wrong. From the same book, the number one source of
information on what ails a patient, is the patient. Crazy huh…?
I would argue one of the most undervalued and under coached skills in the world is listening. My
guess is we have a lot of doctor listeners in the world in all professions and all age ranges. How
many of you forget a name when someone introduces themself the minute they walk away. 🙋
We are thinking about a response or something that relates to us and not listening. We must do
better.
Tom Peters says “The number one significant strategic strength that an organization can have is strategic listening”. Invest in learning this skill. Like other skills, playing the piano, shooting a
basketball, managing finances, and listening is a learnable skill. We must learn and practice.
Something worth teaching is the LADDER Listening Drill:
L – Look at the other person
A – Ask Questions
D – Don’t Interrupt
D – Don’t Change the Subject
E – Emphasize
R – Respond (Verbally/Nonverbally)
On YouTube, google Tom Peters’ Leadership Thoughts: Listening.
John Perry
Source: Tom Peters