The Art Of Listening Versus The Act Of Listening

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January 28, 2022

Is there a difference between the art of listening and the act of listening?  Lord knows there are many people that act they’re listening but they’ve actually tuned out.  Anytime you need a response they look like Bobble Heads saying, “Yup yup.”  A national producer recently sent me a note thanking me for letting his people of fame guests have a voice.  He said, “You have an art to listening.”  Which is interesting because I’m totally guilty of being a Bobble Head. If there’s any secret to what I do it’s based on questioning their answers.  I do that in full public view as well.  The best conversations begin with interaction.  It can’t be lopsided.  Ever been in one those where you feel like the bottom of a deep dark valley floor and the one doing the talking is a higher than the clouds jagged mountain?  In all things it’s gonna be about them.  They usually mean no harm!  We’re all guilty of stepping on that path as well.  It’s called being heard.  But is there an art to listening?  When do you know it’s time to pull away from the other person’s stage?  It’s probably when the pain in your neck gets worse because of Bobble Heading.  A radio program director once said to me, “You only have the attention of a listener for seven seconds.  Figure out what you’re going to do when you’ve been talking for eight, nine and now twenty seconds.  Always put yourself in the shoes of a listener.”