Ever had one of those times when a specific something (a product/service, movie, book, idea) kept popping up on your radar with scary frequency, yet in the most random, unrelated instances? In a conversation, in a song lyric that gets stuck in your head, on a flyer in a bathroom stall, in a fortune cookie… you get my point. Random, and collectively, somewhat bizarre.

Yeah, me too! And here recently, this idea that’s hijacked my receiving frequency isn’t very, well… appealing, mysterious, sexy, dangerous. In fact, at first blush, it’s a bit of a headscratcher.

It’s listening.

It all started with this quote you may have heard before, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” (Stephen R. Covey)

I see myself reflected here and feel disappointed. And if I’m being completely honest, I’m an interrupter too. 😱😱😱 I know I’m not alone in this, but I’m a flagrant offender. Recognizing this, I feel called to be better and do better.

Listening has never been my strong suit. As a graphic designer, I’m a visual learner. Auditory processing requires a heap more focus and concentration. That’s why I’ve never understood the allure of podcasts. Many friends swear by them to pass the time while doing mundane tasks. Heck, unless I’m solely focused on the recording, I’ll miss more than half of what’s said.

So, I’ve decided to take on listening­­ as my 2021 focus—as a means of transformation. Here’s more on what I mean by that.

Listening strengthens relationships and drives connection.
As the communicative designer, I believe it all begins with open communication—a two-way street of giving and receiving. For me both professionally and personally, listening is the more important of the two. As an engaged listener, you demonstrate your respect for the other’s experience and expression. When reciprocated, this builds mutual trust and lays the groundwork for a strong relationship. Whatever the task at hand, I believe a strong relationship is the crucial step to getting you there.

Now more than ever, empathy can be a marketing gamechanger. How do you build that emotional connection with your prospects, clients and colleagues? By listening… to their stories, to the marketplace, to thought leaders and to your own heart.

Listening > Learning
Among all the recent tributes to the late Larry King, I read this powerful quote from the legendary journalist, “I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening. I never learned anything while I was talking.” (Mic drop 🎤🤯) How would it change your life and mine if we looked at every person we spoke with each day from our highest-paying client to the grocery store cashier as a potential teacher?

Listening: A gateway to deeper knowing 
Up to this point, I’ve been musing on the literal act of listening. But now, I want to delve into the art of listening. A listening artist uses all their senses, and listening becomes an act of attention. I first learned this practice from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way and her newly-released follow up The Listening Path. The Artist’s Way process includes a specific type of journaling called morning pages, a weekly artist date and daily walking. Together, these practices encourage a deeper level of attention which stokes the fires of inspiration and intuition.

You may be thinking, “I’m not an artist. Why should I care?” But that’s where you’re wrong—with all due respect. We’re all artists to the extent we want to be. What if you could dramatically improve the level of joy, wonder, abundance and fulfillment you experienced by simply making a commitment to pay closer attention in your life? When you “listen” with intention, your unconscious knowing is fed and begins to gift you with all kinds of amazing insights, inspirations, guidance and promptings to lead you forward both personally and professionally.

I’m starting a 6-week practice of deeper listening as I continue reading The Listening Path. If you’d like to join me, I’d welcome your company. I’ll follow up in a later issue with more about the insights I receive.

Let me practice listening to YOU.
If any, some or all of this has struck a chord with you, let’s talk! If you have projects you’d like to discuss, I’m all ears. Or if you’d like to catch up, that would be wonderful too.