The Best Listener I Know

It’s amazing how two college-educated people who got their MBAs at the same time can share the same conversation yet walk away with two totally interpretations of the desired outcome.

It would be easy to chalk it up to the differences between men and women.  And you’d be right if you did.

Partially.

It would also be easy to chalk it up to cultural differences between the two parties.  We filter what we hear through our cultures of origin.  And you’d be right if you did.

Partially.

It would be a little harder to admit that sometimes people use the same words but mean different things.  You could chalk it up to the many ways most of us have used the same word for different purposes throughout our lives.  And you’d be right if you did.

Partially.

It would require us to take a long, hard look at ourselves and admit that we often hear what we want to hear, say things that aren’t always entirely true, and just plain suck at telling other people exactly what it is we want and when we want it…how we want it…why we want it. 

I think this last one is the most complete and genuine response.  Sure, it could be for all those other reasons, but I’m pretty sure I run across that last one the most, in my professional life as much as in my personal life. 

I think my youngest child is about the best listener I know.  When he wants to be.