Listening: Not As Easy As It Sounds

Here’s something we’ve been thinking about and talking about and wondering about for the past few months.

What does it mean to LISTEN?

It’s a question with a simple answer, right?

Well, no. Not really.

If you Googled that question right now, you’d find a ton of definitions of the word “listen” from quite a few different sources. You’d also find articles about “Effective Listening,” “Listening for Leaders,” and THIS article titled “The Definition of Listening and How to do it Well.”

And it’s all great information – information that we, as audio professionals, should take into consideration every single time we turn that microphone on.

Here’s why:

Most of the work we do involves getting other people to listen to us. We’re pitching stories, we’re telling stories, we’re sharing ideas, we’re imparting information, we’re teaching, etc. Our work involves getting other people to listen to us – and then to HEAR, PROCESS, and RESPOND to the content we’re sharing.

Bearing that in mind, think about THIS: when’s the last time you thought about the PHYSICAL component of listening – and how it affects your listener?

Consider the path your voice travels BEFORE it hits your listener’s ear:

Sound carries from you, through a microphone, it’s compressed and transmitted out across various kinds of speakers, your listener perceives that there is sound, and then the sound finally makes its way into your listener’s ears. From there, the sound is processed in your listener’s brain and, finally, your listener HEARS what you’ve just said. (It’s probably even more complicated than this process! I’m no doctor.)

Then, your listener needs another moment to PROCESS what you’ve just said. And THEN your listener can finally respond in some way. (And again – it’s more complex than this! There is not, however, a doctor in this house.)

It seems clear, though: listening isn’t quite as easy as it might seem. And it is absolutely VITAL when it comes to connecting and engaging with your listener.

Michael Papay, author of “The Power of Listening: What It Means and Why It Matters,” writes: “At its root, listening is the act of mindfully hearing and attempting to comprehend the meaning of words spoken by another person. But listening is also the most important ingredient for building strong leadership, healthy relationships, and thriving organizations. If you need proof, just think of a recent time when you felt like no one was listening. How did that make you feel? Did your engagement increase or decrease?”

Italics mine; read more here.

So, how can you use what you know about listening to make listening easier for your listener? Well, try these four things the next time you turn your mic on to help your listener LISTEN to you.

1. Take your time.
   In our coaching, we talk a lot about pace and tempo. How quickly are you speaking? (And let me acknowledge right now that I am so very guilty of this! I talk MUCH faster than I should behind the microphone.) Be aware that even when you think you’re speaking too slowly, your listener almost definitely does NOT think you’re speaking too slowly. And if you think you’re speaking too quickly, well, you probably are.
   

2. LISTEN to yourself.
   Whether you’re wearing headphones or not, you have the power to listen to yourself. And once you do, you’ll be ASTONISHED at the difference it makes in your presentation. LISTEN to WHAT you’re saying, listen to the pace at which you’re saying it, listen to the pauses you’re allowing between phrases and sentences. Listening to yourself allows you the chance to HEAR what you’re saying from the perspective of your listener.
   

3. Pause.
   As much as we like to “sound authentic” behind the microphone, including moments of pause is important. Those pauses you incorporate into your content allow your listener a moment to catch up with you. Remember, even if your pace is spot on, your listener still needs a little EXTRA time to fully process what you’re saying. Creating a natural sounding pause gives your listener the time to do just that.
   

4. Keep it real.
   Use the language that you use when you’re talking to your friends and your family. If you start talking in a way that is not natural to you – using “big” words or throwing in long quotes from other writers, for example – your listener will get stuck on the “difference” and will end up missing what you’re saying.

Of course, there are more than four things you can do to get your listener to LISTEN; what would you add?

But, this might be a good place to start! Keep these things in mind the next time you open the microphone and you might just be surprised by the feedback your listeners start to share.