You're in the compassion field. You care for others. Perhaps you are a mom to a special needs child. Or you may be a senior pastor. You may be a volunteer for the Red Cross. Whatever your role in compassion, here's one thing that will help you serve strong:
LISTEN
Experts say conversational speech runs at a rate of 125 words per minute. However, our ability to comprehend what is being said runs at 400-500 words per minute. What does this mean? It means you have the ability to listen at a rate 3 to 4 times faster than the words you are hearing from the other person.
The problem? We get bored. We start filling the empty space with thoughts that distract us from really hearing what the other person is saying. We miss cues. We don't recognize opportunities.
The solution? Develop your skill in ACTIVE LISTENING. Active listening contains many sub-skills. Some of them include:
- Recapping what was said
- Using good listening body language (leaning forward, looking at the person's eyes or face)
- Visualizing, in picture form, what the other person is saying
- Occasionally nodding your head or verbally prompting along with "I see" or "Mmmm"
- Keying in on the other person's body language (for example, they may be in agreement with you, but their arms are crossed. What's that about?)
Learn more about active listening skills.
Active listening is rare. Most people don't use it. Then they wonder why they are engaged in so much conflict and misunderstanding. Active listening cuts down the chances for all this grief. Think of it as an investment that will pay huge dividends in time.
Learn to actively listen and you'll be Serving Strong!
note: pic from http://www.audigygroup.com/info/mechanics.html
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