When was the last time you felt really heard? That you had a conversation where the other person was 100% focussed on you, not looking over your shoulder, checking their phone, or simply throwing in an ‘u-huh’ where they thought appropriate, but were really invested in what you were saying?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I bet you felt like a million dollars because, in truth, we love to be heard! And good listeners are few and far between…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When asked how many clients he works with, coach Steve Hardison answered “One. The one I’m with”.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Deep listening comes naturally to many introverts, but we don’t always capitalise on it – here’s how:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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On a sales call – deep listening works twofold here. No only will the potential client feel great being in a conversation that’s all about them, but you’ll pick up all the tiny details they share. By mirroring these back to them and making them feel heard & understood, converting a sale is much easier (and, bonus, feels way less ‘salesy’).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Networking – A room full of strangers making small talk can be an introvert nightmare. Take the pressure off yourself by talking to one person at a time. Not sure what to say? Ask questions – most people love to talk about themselves! Then really listen to their answers. This will allow you to ask even more personalised, insightful questions to continue the conversation.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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To yourself – as an introvert you have a strong inner world, and whether you call it wisdom, intuition or your inner voice, you’ll have a strong guidance system within that you often can’t explain beyond ‘it just feels right’ or ‘I have a bad feeling about it’. When making decisions try to block out the noise like what you feel you ‘should’ do, what other people online are doing or a family member’s opinion – focus on connecting with the internal compass and ‘listening’ to yourself.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Where can you practice at listening more deeply?
