Habit 5 of "The Leader in Me" is "Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood." This means prioritizing listening before speaking, trying to understand another person's perspective fully before sharing your own. It involves balancing courage and consideration, and expressing your views with clarity and respect.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Active Listening:
It's about being present and engaged when someone else is speaking, really trying to hear what they're saying, both verbally and nonverbally (body language).
Empathic Listening:
It goes beyond just hearing the words; it involves trying to understand the other person's feelings and experiences.
Avoiding Interruptions and Assumptions:
It means not interrupting or making premature judgments about the other person's message before they finish speaking.
Sharing Your Perspective Respectfully:
Once you've understood the other person's viewpoint, you can share your own ideas and feelings in a way that acknowledges their perspective.
Levels of Listening:
The concept of "levels of listening" (ignoring, pretending, selective listening, attentive listening, empathic listening) can help you understand where you might be falling short and how to improve your listening skills.