When university students reflect on their assumptions about listening after playing The Telephone Game the insights are profound.
“Last I played ‘Telephone’ was in third grade. When we broke into teams I was telling myself, ‘This is going to be great, we’re all in college, we got this.’ We are in college, we didn’t get it, and I did better in third grade.”
Coach Clyde Hart
Listening does not get better or become easier because we age. Effective listening is acquired with practice, and learning good listening skills increases your value and credibility as an employee, manager, entrepreneur, CEO, coach, and public speaker.
Lean in. With the people you are privileged to listen to today, lean into the space and toward the face of the person speaking. The action of leaning in tells your brain and shows the person speaking that their thoughts are important and their presence matters to you.
Listen. Lead. Inspire.