One of your goals for the new year might be to be a better communicator, and one of the best communication tips I can suggest is to be a better listener.
Most of us are concerned about what we say or how we say it. We want to be thought of as a good communicator, possibly a good speaker. But, when it comes to one-on-one communication, nothing beats listening.
And listening is only possible if you learn to separate facts from truth. Facts are the things you're hearing from someone else, like how they like their job or what they're doing next weekend. They're facts, but you need to go beyond the facts to get to the truth.
Most of us are concerned about what we say or how we say it. We want to be thought of as a good communicator, possibly a good speaker. But, when it comes to one-on-one communication, nothing beats listening.
And listening is only possible if you learn to separate facts from truth. Facts are the things you're hearing from someone else, like how they like their job or what they're doing next weekend. They're facts, but you need to go beyond the facts to get to the truth.
For example, it may be 80 degrees outside. That's a fact. But if the previous four days had been 98 and humid, the truth is that the 80 degrees is down right cool.
So, learn to understand what is fact and what is truth. The truth is what the fact really means for that person. That's where you want to focus your response.
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Wes Bleed is a speaker, blogger and communications strategist. He speaks and produces training programs on communication and presentation skills, social media and video production.
wesbleed.com | twitter: @wesbleed
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