Last night, we enjoyed a lovely October evening in the Atlanta area. The temperature had cooled to the low 70’s making it very comfortable for al-fresco dining with friends. As it would have been somewhat tragic to miss this blissful weather opportunity, my wife, Jill, and I enjoyed an evening out with another couple. The other couple, David and Dana are my wife’s business partners for her residential remodeling and construction business. We agreed to meet at Avalon around 6:00 p.m. Avalon is a trendy new mixed-use venue in the northern suburbs of Atlanta. Most Friday evenings during the Summer and early Fall, people congregate there to listen to a live band, enjoy a casual dinner and drinks, and participate in lively conversation.
David arrived a little later as he had to attend an event with his son. That gave us time for a few drinks and conversation with Dana. At some point during the conversation, Dana mentioned how interesting it is to watch Jill and David work together, especially the way they work through the creative process. As Dana explained it, she facilitates their work by helping Jill and David communicate. She said they spend a lot of time talking past each other, not actually hearing what the other has said. That’s not a surprise, as they’re both strong-willed, creative types, successful in their own right. Dana is their interpreter. Our conversation reminded me of the awesome power of listening.
Reflecting on this past week, I spent a lot of time listening. I listened to several job seekers talk about their career interests. One was much more interesting than the other, as his experience was broader and deeper. I made a presentation to The Business Executives Networking Group (The BENG) which I designed to be interactive. I was successful as my presentation generated a lively discussion. As a result, I received a lot of input from the group. While editing the presentation video I recorded, I became aware of opportunities to improve my delivery. While careful listening facilitated the editing process, it also revealed some cringe-worthy speaking habits. I had the same experience listening to the webinar I delivered on Thursday. Listening to my presentations as if I was a member of the audience, became a self-improvement exercise. Wednesday, I conducted my monthly Executive Leadership Meeting which was an opportunity to hear from my advisors. As these people represent the leadership counsel for my company, it is important to hear from them and to ask questions for clarity. As that meeting was conducted via ZOOM, I have a video recording to refer to as I prepare the meeting recap. Hopefully, I will hear something interesting that I missed during our meeting.
Friday morning, I had a meeting with another colleague. We discussed many opportunities, including the possibility of collaborating on a seminar about professionalism. During that meeting, I observed that my favorite way to close a deal was by listening to the prospective client talk about their issues and thoughts for corrective action. In those situations, I listen carefully and ask questions for clarification and insight. I listen without judgment or offering an opinion, asking questions to understand the prospect’s desired outcome. I believe that conducting myself in this manner demonstrates a sincere interest in understanding their situation. By showing interest in learning about the prospect’s problem, I demonstrate my respect for her and empathy for her situation. This process helps build rapport, the foundation for all relationships. It also shows the prospect what to expect from me if hired to help her resolve an issue. This discussion brought the power of listening to full focus.
It was a late evening, Friday. However, it was most enjoyable and a great bonding opportunity for all of us. Best of all, listening to Dana talk about her role as a facilitator reminded me how important listening is to one’s success.
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North Fulton Business RadioX Interview, September 26, 2019