Give the Gift of Your Attention

How many misunderstandings do you experience in the workplace or at home because you weren't paying attention to someone? Perhaps this happens with a particular person who has a different communication style than you. I can get impatient with people whom Jerry Seinfeld might term, "long talkers." These people take forever to get to the point. Their information is good but I just have a hard time consuming it.

We all bring certain expectations and baggage to conversations and sometimes they interfere with the communications process. The added stress and confusion doesn't serve anyone. So for the next week, try an experiment. Identify the person who you tend to tune out and when you talk to them, give them 100% of your attention. Block all distractions, other than ones that would endanger you (like a warning about a fire or a runaway bus). Pay attention as if you're flying the space shuttle and ground control is giving you critical reentry data.

I think you'll find that by doing this you may eliminate some of your communication problems. Sometimes it's about showing the other person that you're interested in what they have to say. Simply putting them at easy may make them stop their annoying behavior, like taking too long to get to the point. It's a gift of respect that produces positive enforcement.