The Benefits of Practicing
"Appreciative Listening"
Do you practice ... "Appreciative Listening"?
"Appreciative Listening" was defined by Eleanor Blayney, co-founder of consulting company Directions for Women and consumer advocate for the national Certified Financial Planner Board in a June 22nd, Chicago Tribune article,as: "Full and careful attention to what the speaker is saying, their body language, etc. Or it can refer to an organizational process where you solve problems not by focusing on what is wrong or broken ... but on what is working."
In other words, "Appreciative Listening" is the "art form" of truly and thoroughly engaging and listening to someone while they communicate with you. Watching them while they speak, learning from them as they do. You then utilize their strengths, what they already know ... to help solve their problems and address their needs moving forward.
This "Appreciative Listening" truly IS an art form and quite rare to discover. It's also not easy to practice, as it takes time, imagination, and real effort to assess what you're really seeing and/or receiving as a message from the other person.
It definitely is also a much more positive and pro-active approach to interacting and educating, especially within a business atmosphere, to be sure.
Now the context in which this term was used within the Trib article was enlightening to me. And I gained insight and much food for thought while reading it. (I provide the link to that article HERE.)
But I think the words and term "Appreciative Listening" can apply to so many more people, situations, and services than what is presented within the article.
Plus, personally ... I don't think "Appreciative Listening" should run just one-way. It needs to be "give and take" between all parties involved in the communicating to be fully effective and reap the highest and best results.
In the context of the Trib article, the focus and intent of "Appreciative Listening" is focusing mainly on the flow of business provider to client services. The intent of the better listening skills is to improve upon the business services being provided.
While I have no doubt that there is much room for businesses and servicers to improve and gain by applying better "Appreciative Listening" skills, I also believe that clients, customers, and referral partners can gain from implementing and improving upon theirs too.
If everyone involved with the communications pairs improved listening skills with the willingness to listen ... amazing things can happen.
So I ask again ... do YOU practice "Appreciative Listening"?
If so, what improvements and benefits have you seen and experienced within your own life or business because of it??
I'm all ears and listening ...
* Are you hoping to work with a mortgage lender that will truly listen and communicate with you? Take the time necessary to answer all your questions fully?
Contact me today. I believe education and knowledge is key to the success of your home buying transaction, future financial success, and mortgage financing, as well. I can be found at any of the following:
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708.921.6331
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630.219.1316
Mobile: m.genemundt.com
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