seek first to understand, then to be understood. this habit is to listen first, talk second; see...
TRANSCRIPT
This habit is to listen first, talk second; see things from another person’s point of view before sharing your own.
When I ask you to listen to me
And you start giving me advice,
You have not done what I have asked.
When I ask you to listen to me
And you begin to tell me why
I shouldn’t feel that way,
You are trampling on my feelings.
When I ask you to listen to me
And you feel you have to do something
To solve my problem,You have failed me,Strange as that may
seem.
Listen! All I ask is that you listen.
Don’t talk or do – just hear me.
1. SPACING OUT: ignoring the person talking to you while you’re caught up in your own thoughts
2. PRETEND LISTENING: listening in a way that makes the other person feel they are not important (“uh-huh…,” “oh yeah, for sure…”)
3. SELECTIVE LISTENING: focusing in on only part of the conversation that interests you, rather than hearing out the other person’s thoughts
4. WORD LISTENING: focusing on the words only, not the body language or the meaning behind the words
The other day I saw my girl Walking with some other manThey were walking and
giggling and having a timeAnd I saw she was holding his
hand!
I stood back and spied, my eyes filled with tears
As I watched this foul displaySome overly cheerful bicep
with legsWas taking my baby away!
As I spied over dumpsters with feelings of hate
I saw them in a close embrace!Now I’m broken-heartedCause before they partedI saw her kiss his face.
That ended my garbage-can espionage
I thought I had seen quite enough
I decided to confront that devilish girl
Who I had once called my true love.
So I typed up an e-mail to that wicked female
And gave her a piece of my mind.
But I won’t say what I said, In case there’s kids presentBut I will say my words were
unkind.
I said it was the end, And right when I clicked sendI heard my telephone ring.I picked up the receiver and
couldn’t believe herIt was my little ex…thing.
She said, “Sorry babe that I haven’t
seen you all dayBut my older brother is in
town!Did I ever mention that he
is a boxerAn one of the biggest
around?!
“He’d like to meet you,But he’s quite protectiveSo behave whatever you
do,I’ll check my e-mail and
then we’ll come byAnd…oh look! Here’s an e-
mail from you!”