Comments on: Theme of the Week – More Listening Less Talking http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/12/theme-of-the-week-more-listening-less-talking/ You must by happy to do great work. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:23:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Staffing Agency Philippines http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/12/theme-of-the-week-more-listening-less-talking/comment-page-1/#comment-8764 Staffing Agency Philippines Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:03:39 +0000 http://www.workhappynow.com/?p=1686#comment-8764 Less talk,less mistake! I always believe in that. Anyway, good communication always starts at good listening. In an interaction, you must listen many times rather than talking. That's the time your conversation will be more interesting for both of you. Less talk,less mistake! I always believe in that. Anyway, good communication always starts at good listening. In an interaction, you must listen many times rather than talking. That’s the time your conversation will be more interesting for both of you.

]]> By: Chris Edgar http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/12/theme-of-the-week-more-listening-less-talking/comment-page-1/#comment-8238 Chris Edgar Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:52:39 +0000 http://www.workhappynow.com/?p=1686#comment-8238 Hi Karl -- thanks for this -- I actually do the same with post-it notes that usually have to do with my breathing or posture -- I'll remind myself to breathe into and relax areas that don't get a lot of attention from me, like my lower back. Hi Karl — thanks for this — I actually do the same with post-it notes that usually have to do with my breathing or posture — I’ll remind myself to breathe into and relax areas that don’t get a lot of attention from me, like my lower back.

]]> By: Stacey Shipman http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/12/theme-of-the-week-more-listening-less-talking/comment-page-1/#comment-8234 Stacey Shipman Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:42:00 +0000 http://www.workhappynow.com/?p=1686#comment-8234 Yes I believe in themes. I had declared for myself "30 days Judgment free" It was powerful! I may do it again this year and this time put it on my blog. Listening...something I think we all could use a lesson in! We were given 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason...or so I'm told :-) Yes I believe in themes. I had declared for myself “30 days Judgment free” It was powerful! I may do it again this year and this time put it on my blog.

Listening…something I think we all could use a lesson in! We were given 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason…or so I’m told :-)

]]> By: Sue http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/12/theme-of-the-week-more-listening-less-talking/comment-page-1/#comment-8228 Sue Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:56:16 +0000 http://www.workhappynow.com/?p=1686#comment-8228 Hi Karl, It shows a lot of self-awareness that you recognize when you have not been fully attentive in the listening portion of communications. I'm betting that most people have probably had the experience of impatiently waiting for another person to finish speaking so we can have our say--and worse still spending all that time figuring out what we're going to say rather than actually listening to what's been said, yet we feel quite disrespected and devalued when we're on the receiving end of such behavior. Good communication also seems to require careful observation of and responses to all the non-verbal cues and messages that are conveyed as part of the conversation. I think the theme per week is a good idea. What if you had a theme per month, and for each theme there were 4-5 measurable actions so that you (or others) could focus on one action for each week within the month? Just a thought, but maybe it's something that could be collected and collated into a package of ideas or exercises for readers or client companies. Keep up the great work and thanks for all the great posts. Sue Hi Karl,

It shows a lot of self-awareness that you recognize when you have not been fully attentive in the listening portion of communications. I’m betting that most people have probably had the experience of impatiently waiting for another person to finish speaking so we can have our say–and worse still spending all that time figuring out what we’re going to say rather than actually listening to what’s been said, yet we feel quite disrespected and devalued when we’re on the receiving end of such behavior. Good communication also seems to require careful observation of and responses to all the non-verbal cues and messages that are conveyed as part of the conversation.

I think the theme per week is a good idea. What if you had a theme per month, and for each theme there were 4-5 measurable actions so that you (or others) could focus on one action for each week within the month? Just a thought, but maybe it’s something that could be collected and collated into a package of ideas or exercises for readers or client companies.

Keep up the great work and thanks for all the great posts.

Sue

]]> By: Karl Staib - CZO (Chief Zen Officer) http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/12/theme-of-the-week-more-listening-less-talking/comment-page-1/#comment-8225 Karl Staib - CZO (Chief Zen Officer) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:32:50 +0000 http://www.workhappynow.com/?p=1686#comment-8225 Hi Marelisa, Let me know how the little reminders work out for you. Hi J.D. Picking themes by the week for each month is a great idea. I bet it's a great way to stay focused. Hi Charlie, I do need to do a better job of defining my goals and making them actionable. It's not easy, but that's what it takes to be productive. Hi Evita, By fully opening ourselves to what someone says to us we are opening to a new world. I can't wait to review when I'm done. Hi Megan, We need to create plans that we can actually follow through on. Too many times we have good intentions and fail. Maybe I'll even break down the theme of the week into daily focus points. Hmmmmm. Hi Marelisa, Let me know how the little reminders work out for you.

Hi J.D. Picking themes by the week for each month is a great idea. I bet it’s a great way to stay focused.

Hi Charlie, I do need to do a better job of defining my goals and making them actionable. It’s not easy, but that’s what it takes to be productive.

Hi Evita, By fully opening ourselves to what someone says to us we are opening to a new world. I can’t wait to review when I’m done.

Hi Megan, We need to create plans that we can actually follow through on. Too many times we have good intentions and fail. Maybe I’ll even break down the theme of the week into daily focus points. Hmmmmm.

]]> By: Megan "JoyGirl!" Bord http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/12/theme-of-the-week-more-listening-less-talking/comment-page-1/#comment-8216 Megan "JoyGirl!" Bord Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:21:46 +0000 http://www.workhappynow.com/?p=1686#comment-8216 I think my work theme this week (and until it happens) might be "get a job!" (smile) I loved your theme idea, and one week is a really great, manageable chunk of time for many people; me, included. Like you, I grow bored, listless, and want to move on or revert to old habits a few days after trying something new. Listening is so very important, and a real gift that you end up giving to whoever is talking. Good for you! I can't wait to hear about it on Friday. Happy Monday! I think my work theme this week (and until it happens) might be “get a job!” (smile)

I loved your theme idea, and one week is a really great, manageable chunk of time for many people; me, included. Like you, I grow bored, listless, and want to move on or revert to old habits a few days after trying something new.

Listening is so very important, and a real gift that you end up giving to whoever is talking. Good for you! I can’t wait to hear about it on Friday.

Happy Monday!

]]> By: Evita http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/12/theme-of-the-week-more-listening-less-talking/comment-page-1/#comment-8212 Evita Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:59:08 +0000 http://www.workhappynow.com/?p=1686#comment-8212 That is one excellent theme! So often it is true we are just not present for each other, we think we are listening, but most of the time we are getting ready what we are going to say next. We just don't give the other person(s) the space to be truly heard, and the presence from us that they deserve. I will so be keeping this theme in mind this week myself Karl - thank you! That is one excellent theme! So often it is true we are just not present for each other, we think we are listening, but most of the time we are getting ready what we are going to say next.

We just don’t give the other person(s) the space to be truly heard, and the presence from us that they deserve. I will so be keeping this theme in mind this week myself Karl – thank you!

]]> By: Charlie http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/12/theme-of-the-week-more-listening-less-talking/comment-page-1/#comment-8211 Charlie Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:52:43 +0000 http://www.workhappynow.com/?p=1686#comment-8211 Before I forget: thanks so much for the kind words and the link. I think themes are a great way to go, but I'm also curious about how you chunked your 30 Day challenges. You're absolutely right that they're easy to do for some things like eating less sugar, but harder for the higher perspective things. What does a 30 Day challenge of "be more generous" look like? Maybe it was ADD, but maybe it was also that the intentions of the 30 Day challenges weren't mated up with actions to manifest those intentions. "Be more generous" might include: volunteer at the homeless shelter for an afternoon, clean out the closets and donate stuff to the goodwill, sponsor a child at the Christmas tree thing at the mall, spend one focused afternoon playing with the kids, etc. (Sorry, I'm now hardwired to translate meaning into action and can go overboard...) "More Listening, Less Talking" is a way in which you've given a broad enough theme to allow some intuition and flexibility, but the verbs (actions) are carrying the weight. I'm curious - can you come up with another theme next week in the social dimension and build some momentum by stringing them together? And we can all do more listening and less talking. Maybe I should have thought about that before I started commenting? Before I forget: thanks so much for the kind words and the link.

I think themes are a great way to go, but I’m also curious about how you chunked your 30 Day challenges. You’re absolutely right that they’re easy to do for some things like eating less sugar, but harder for the higher perspective things. What does a 30 Day challenge of “be more generous” look like?

Maybe it was ADD, but maybe it was also that the intentions of the 30 Day challenges weren’t mated up with actions to manifest those intentions. “Be more generous” might include: volunteer at the homeless shelter for an afternoon, clean out the closets and donate stuff to the goodwill, sponsor a child at the Christmas tree thing at the mall, spend one focused afternoon playing with the kids, etc. (Sorry, I’m now hardwired to translate meaning into action and can go overboard…)

“More Listening, Less Talking” is a way in which you’ve given a broad enough theme to allow some intuition and flexibility, but the verbs (actions) are carrying the weight. I’m curious – can you come up with another theme next week in the social dimension and build some momentum by stringing them together?

And we can all do more listening and less talking. Maybe I should have thought about that before I started commenting?

]]> By: Lance http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/12/theme-of-the-week-more-listening-less-talking/comment-page-1/#comment-8208 Lance Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:14:45 +0000 http://www.workhappynow.com/?p=1686#comment-8208 Karl, Listening is a great skill to work on. And even when we listen, are we really listening? Active listening means you are there, really taking in what is being said. And that is very good - it makes the other person feel valued and important. And when they feel that way, you've just gained an ally... I've never done a weekly theme. One idea I do try to focus on, though - is being "in the moment". If I can fully be taken into each of the moments of my day - those moments take on more meaning, and my focus is more directed toward exactly what I am doing. Karl,
Listening is a great skill to work on. And even when we listen, are we really listening? Active listening means you are there, really taking in what is being said. And that is very good – it makes the other person feel valued and important. And when they feel that way, you’ve just gained an ally…

I’ve never done a weekly theme. One idea I do try to focus on, though – is being “in the moment”. If I can fully be taken into each of the moments of my day – those moments take on more meaning, and my focus is more directed toward exactly what I am doing.

]]> By: J.D. Meier http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/12/theme-of-the-week-more-listening-less-talking/comment-page-1/#comment-8201 J.D. Meier Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:12:16 +0000 http://www.workhappynow.com/?p=1686#comment-8201 Themes are a great way to go. Whether it's daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, themes help create focus. I originally called my approach "30 day improvement sprints", but the problem was, it's not about 30 days. It's really about setting an overall theme for the month. So now I just call it, "monthly improvement sprints." This way I don't have to track the days, I just ride the calendar. Each month is a fresh start (or a repeat if I choose.) Within the month, I pick themes for the week. Themes are a great way to go. Whether it’s daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, themes help create focus.

I originally called my approach “30 day improvement sprints”, but the problem was, it’s not about 30 days. It’s really about setting an overall theme for the month. So now I just call it, “monthly improvement sprints.” This way I don’t have to track the days, I just ride the calendar. Each month is a fresh start (or a repeat if I choose.) Within the month, I pick themes for the week.

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