Have you ever heard or read a quote that made you stop & ask to hear it again?
Yesterday that happened with this quote by David Augsburger:
“Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable.”
Isn’t that powerful?!
Listening is a skill we all need to work on. Whether it’s in leadership, in relationships, in friendships or parenthood – we can probably all improve in this area.
Especially at a time of crisis when people are hurting, confused, anxious & scared, they need to feel loved (in other words – heard).
So I wanted to share a fun test to see if you are a good listener or where you need improvement.
Am I A Good Listener?
Steven Ash, “The Career Doctor” developed this listening test. It is a great
way to see where you rate as a listener. Good luck!
Give yourself 4 points if the answer to the following questions is Always;
three points for Usually; two points for Rarely; and one point for Never.
__ Do I allow the speaker to finish without interrupting?
__ Do I listen “between the lines”; that is for the subtext?
__ When writing a message, do I listen for and set down the key facts and
phrases?
__ Do I repeat what the person just said to clarify the meaning?
__ Do I avoid getting hostile and/or agitated when I disagree with the
speaker?
__Do I tune out distractions when listening?
__Do I make an effort to seem interested in what the other person is saying?
Scoring
26 or higher – You are an excellent listener
22-25 – Better than average score
18 – 21 room for improvement
17 or lower – Get out there right away and start listening
One Response
After seeing animals in the wild and/or in a huge private reserves in Africa I am also hesitant about visiting zoos as it upsets me to see animals in small enclosures. It is good to read a post from that perspective where you were looking to see how well cared for the animals are and if they have enough space. Ultimately I understand why some zoos exist and why people like to visit them, but it is extremely important to read posts like this and to research before visiting them to ensure the animals are properly cared for. Chad Mickey Johst