Because our lives can seem so overwhelming , many of us have learned the art of “ sort of ” listening to others . with our practices , products , and business relationships when we aren ’ t investing much engagement in them ? The answer is obvious , so next time you find yourself drifting off when someone else is talking , try this simple countermeasure : Silently paraphrase what you just heard the other person say .
Relationships Are Built One Small Interaction at a Time
You ’ ve probably noted that these tips overlap . One effective way to combine them is to capture the information you just picked up ( remember who is a gardener , who is struggling with itchiness , who has three kids under the age of 6 , etc .).
Whether you do this in your Customer Relationship Management software , in your personal notebook , or as a voice memo on your phone , keep these notes in a place where you can quickly scan them before your next interaction with that person .
We ’ re all gratified when we discover that someone has made a concerted effort to really listen , remember what we said , and acknowledge us in a sincere or fun way .
So , let ’ s re-commit to doing these small things in our 2022 business interactions .
If , for example , your patient says , “ I ’ m not concerned about that mole because my mother had one ,” you might think she ’ s not worried ; her mother had a mole . Really hearing what she said could inspire countless reactions from you , including , “ Did your mother get it checked out ?” to “ Is your mother still around ?” to “ You know , even though these tend to be hereditary ...”
After all , the secret ingredient for any business success is our ability to build relationships .
See you next time , Jezra