Listening as a Tool for Improving Business Relationships Corrinne Graham, WE NYC Mentor

“No man ever listened himself out of a job.” — President Calvin Coolidge
I’ll go a bit further to say “Nor does one listen oneself out of a client.” Or do we?
Listening is a challenge for all of us at times. Although we don’t intend to ignore people, not listening can have serious financial implications as well as other undesirable side effects such as: Loss of a job, Loss of a client, Liability, and Estranged relationships.
We all listen differently depending on the environment, the situation and our own comfort level and confidence. In a world of information overload, how do we hone and tune our listening skills to sharpen our focus on our customers, families, friends, colleagues, employees and employers?
I believe we each have unique listening abilities. To be a good listener, however, it is important to step outside of your comfort zone and learn to put yourself in the shoes of the person who is trying to deliver the message. After all, can you remedy problems or provide possible solutions if you miss the message?