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How To Improve Your Productivity By Talking Less (and Listening More)
The importance of listening better to get more done
A few months ago, my husband and I went on a cross-country road trip where we spent long but fun days in the car. One of the things I noticed during our trip was how often we found ourselves having to repeat whatever we had just said. Whether it was the road noise in the car or the fact we were in our own little worlds, more than half the time one of us said something, the other would answer with one word.
“What?”
This was annoying for both of us as it felt like the other person wasn’t really paying attention or listening. Even worse, it was occasionally problematic as we ended up missing turns and off-ramps and, in one case, nearly a whole interstate.
We were talking to each other, but we weren’t listening.
Inefficient listening isn’t just a road trip problem; it shows up every day, and not just between spouses. Fully listening to someone is one of those skills you might think you’re good at, but you really aren’t.
Often you don’t fully listen because you’re preoccupied with thinking about how to get your point in next or what you are going to do when the conversation is over.
