We Have Two Ears and One Mouth! And Our Ears Are Always Open!

Recently, in Episode 71 of my podcast SpeakLikeaLeader.show my guest, Dr. Mark Goulston shared a wisdom bomb like no other. LISTEN HERE

He captures Leadership Speaking in a perfect phrase: Purposeful Agenda-less Listening. That is really good stuff.

Listening is the key ingredient in communicating and succeeding with others. But, most of us don’t naturally practice purposeful agenda-less listening. I know that I’ve spent too much time thinking about what I was going to say once they stopped talking, and not listening to their ideas!

There are some real benefits to practicing purposeful agenda-less listening. Listening is how we learn and people will tell us all kinds of important things if we just listen. Avant Garde American Master John Cage said, “Listening is composing.”

When you practice purposeful agenda-less listening the people around you will notice. They will feel like you get them; you understand them. And, you will!

Finally, when I started practicing purposeful, agenda-less listening other people got much more interesting! (And I don’t think they are the ones who changed!)

Bottom Line: Purposeful Agenda-less Listening will make you the best speaker you can be.