Listening is hard. At work, at home, or at school, listening is one of the most difficult and demanding things we do. There are conversations taking place in the boardroom, at the water cooler, behind closed doors, in the lunchroom, or simple conversations between two people. Opinions, values, and perspective frame how we hear the conversations around us. Listening to the right things are important for success, but listening to the wrong things can take us down disastrous paths.
We have to CONTROL THE FILTER. Truth is, there is so much NOISE happening that we have to FOCUS our energy to ensure we LISTEN to the good stuff. We will HEAR everything, but we must CHOOSE what to LISTEN to. The athlete, on the field or the court, can't let the crowd, the competitor, or the atmosphere get in the way of completing the pass, shooting the ball, or running the course. They have to FOCUS their energy and stop listening to the distractions. The musician, on the marching band field, can't listen to what is happening 40 yards away or what is happening in front of them. They have to know where, what, and who to FOCUS their listening energy to be part of the successful team. The successful leader can't listen to the NOISE of the workplace. The negativity, the "I can't" or "I won't", the me agendas, the mutiny discussion, and the sloth mentality won't help you or your mission move in the direction you are working so hard to accomplish. If we LISTEN to the NOISE we will become part of it. Human nature loves the gossip, conflict, and emotion. Remember, we can't stop the NOISE. We can CONTROL THE FILTER so that you can CHOOSE to LISTEN to the things that matter. As you hear things this week, take the time to CONTROL THE FILTER, FOCUS your energy, and LISTEN to the people and conversations that will drive you towards success! |
Thanks for stopping by. These are musings on how I see leadership in the world and how I continue to try and grow through my lens.
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