When you take time to listen to another person, you don’t just give them a gift, you give yourself one. Dr Juli Slattery observes: ‘Everyone is attracted to a good listener. How ironic that you can major in communications and never take a class on one of the most fundamental aspects of communicating – listening…Perhaps the most powerful mode of sharing the gospel, saving your marriage, and making friends is to truly listen. We feel loved by those who take the time to hear our story and ask insightful questions…Here are three ways to become a better listener: 1) Become curious. Every person you meet is interesting…On the surface they may drone on about something you don’t care about, but underneath is an interesting story if you take time to dig for it. For me, the first step to listening is finding something to be curious about…After 20 years of marriage, I still want to be curious about my husband…to know what God is teaching him…what he’s looking forward to, and what made him laugh today. 2) Maintain eye contact. Because we can’t gauge listening by looking at someone’s ears, we look at their eyes…We show our children, spouses, friends, and even strangers respect when we give them focused attention. 3) Go beyond the words you hear. We only communicate a portion of what we want to express through words. The rest comes through body language, tone, and even silence.’ Proverbs 12:15: ‘A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others’ (TLB). As much as you may like the sound of your own voice – you become wise by learning to listen.
