Harvard Professor and Physician Jerome Groopman in How Doctors Think argues that the key to collecting useful information and solving the patient’s health puzzle is to let the patient say his or her piece. Yet, that is not happening; the average doctor interrupts after 18 seconds! Feeling like an expert and thinking the problem is identifiable, the doctor doles out a prescription and is ready for the next patient, but the odds are, Doc Know-It-All likely has not scoped out the problem.
The more you know, the harder it is to say less, but the best of the best are extraordinary listeners. With nods and nudges, they elicit facts, observations, opinions, and even confessions, if one needed to be had.
Key steps to being a more effective listener, according to renowned author Tom Peters:
1. Own up to the fact that you might be an 18-second interrupter. If you do not tackle the problem head-on, it will persist. Be open to when others give you feedback that you may have a proclivity to interrupt.
2. Take action to change the habit.
-Be patient, let the other person stumble to clarity without interruption.
-Don’t finish the other person’s sentences.
-Be exhausted after your encounter, if you are not, you may not have been truly listening.
Quote of the day: “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” – Will Rogers
Q: What’s your favorite way to listen or to be listened to? Comment below and share with us.
Stop talking, start listening