Listen for that Real Connection in Relationship Building
Posted By Robin Lynn Brooks on April 27, 2010
May I Have Your Attention Please
Have you ever found yourself wondering if you are being heard, if a person is really getting it as you speak and share an idea, opinion or story?
Or you may have heard this one before that the picture in someone else’s mind is not going to process the same image or thought necessarily as yours. We might be hearing the same exact story right down to the most critical detail, but all the same we experience our very own images, ideas, questions or distractions.
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Talk About Distractions…
When I’ve observed my own mental distractions occur like crazy, going off on a wild tangent I often realize I’m missing huge chunks of the picture!
So here I am today thinking about how peple can become literally blinded by distraction while someone is sharing their heart in a story as our mind swoops in and out of attention. It might be really brief, but have you noticed its seemingly provoked into, what’s evidently, a much more fascinating thought and it just takes off as though…. Well, as if it had a mind of its own!
While I don’t think it’s always a bad thing necessarily, I’d like to share a key point in that we should consider how the person on the delivering end may not be getting the attention they deserve. When the listener’s focus turns towards what’s on their own mind, perhaps even on to what they would love to interject then the connection is interrupted. The relationship is disconnected.
Of course there are many different situations when varying degrees of listening are going to be acceptable but my focus here is on the importance of doing what it takes to really be connecting as it pertains to the values of relationship building.
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Are you a good listener?
To be a really good listener we should be going into it with the mindset of focusing entirely on the other person. One of the reasons being is that to truly listen to someone often means to listen beyond the words and if we are distracted we will likely fall short of fully understanding.
When we are sharing and engaging, particularly when it is a newly formed acquaintance, it’s like a dance where we exchange words and it goes something like this: You step in, share a little, I share a little, and then you share a little so I share a little more…
In the end the person who gives the most thoughtful responses and receives the least amount or no judgment at all is the winner!
You see, it’s because they have now found someone to trust, to listen and they feel safe there. They weren’t interrupted and you allowed them to express their words which you regarded as important. What a gift. It was the gift of putting your interests on the back burner and allowing someone else to express their point of interest. And you not only gave, you also received something of value. You have not only gained someone’s respect, you understand and know them better, too.
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I Am Guilty Myself
Even the most courteous by the definition of courteous have trouble fighting the compulsion of inserting their clever opinions into another’s “presentation”. But indulging this bad habit can likely run the risk of being identified as self-centered and negatively affect relationships and true connections with others.
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What are your thoughts? Please do send me some Comment-Luv and I will talk to you later!
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Thanks for Coming by Today & Do Enjoy Your Day!
Robin
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When memory and logic developed, I would recall that famous mom scolding for not listening. Eventually logic linked with the experience of punishment while the little voice in my mind echoed a reminder of the emotional pain. “There is no way I definitely should not take it upon myself to cross the road and play with those girls.”


Black-Eyed Peas – One Tribe
Dakota Moon – Another Day Goes By
Kenny Loggins – Celebrate Me Home
Genesis – World of Confusion
Robert Plant – Big Log
NeedToBreathe – Lay ‘em Down
JHolistics – WhenLoveTakesOver -MindMovie