Are You Listening?

Jesus spoke with such clarity and he listened intently to people as they expressed to him their innermost emotions. The connection to listening and speaking can be best examined when reviewing scriptures that capture conversations with Jesus.  John 4:7 demonstrate the masterful way Jesus heard a need within a dialogue. 

Property managers are not miracle workers, but if we understand how to listen and discern a need within a conversation the results can seem miraculous. In my experience its not unusual to see a bad, no – a terrible situation instantly transformed when sincere and active listening is evident.

Below I’ve listed a few tried and true tips for active listening:

1. Engage yourself. Ask questions for clarification,  wait until the speaker has finished. That way, you won’t interrupt their train of thought. After you ask questions, paraphrase their point to make sure you didn’t misunderstand. Start with: “So you’re saying…”

2. Focus solely on what the speaker is saying. Try not to think about what you are going to say next. The conversation will follow a logical flow after the speaker makes her point.

3. Even if the speaker is launching a complaint against you, wait until they finish to defend yourself. The speaker will feel as though their point had been made. They won’t feel the need to repeat it, and you’ll know the whole argument before you respond. Research shows that, on average, we can hear four times faster than we can talk, so we have the ability to sort ideas as they come in…and be ready for more.

4. Remember to RELAX, open your heart and open your mind.