1) Single most important principle in the field of interpersonal relations is Empathic Communication, which means "Seek first to understand, then to be understood"

#Leadership #Communication #empathy

2) There are four forms of communication: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We spend most of our waking hours communicating. The ability to do it well is absolutely critical for human effectiveness

3) We spend years learning how to read, write and speak but how about listening? What education or training have we had that enables us to listen so that we can really deeply understand another human being.

4)  We typically seek first to be understood. Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. They are either speaking or preparing to speak.

5) We are usually listening at 4 levels:
Ignoring - not listening at all
Pretending - "Yeah. Uh-huh. Right"
Selective Listening - hearing only selective parts
Attentive listening - paying attention and focusing on words
But we should practice the 5th level : Empathic Listening