To make others to listen is a skill.

MT is one senior corporate manager with a public company. He didn't sound cheerful when I visited him, because the company is down-sizing. The moral of the working staffs is low and unhappy. MT has been working with this company for more than twenty years. He practically understands all aspects and conditions of the progress of his employer. He knows the strength and weaknesses too.

During our discussion, I suggested MT to propose his ideas, thoughts and improvement for his company. Perhaps his sharing might be useful to his boss. At that point, MT was a bit serious and upset with my suggestion. He claimed that his boss was never a person to listen to others. He would be there to hear but not to listen. MT was explaining, Hearing and Listening has different purposes. According to him, he might be there to hear but nothing would go into his mind. Unless he listened.

MT was totally right. If only his boss was listening, things would have improved. However MT also had made some mistakes, he approached his boss by the hearing concept and not by the listening. If he wanted his boss to listen more attentively with him, he should have started the ONE MINUTE question. One example, "Boss, I have a fantastic idea which will make our company a turn around. We will shine again. We will make Billion. If only u have the time to listen. Are u interested?"

If that One Minute question was asked in the first place, thing would be different then. The one minute question creates curiosity, excitement and thought. If the boss has intention to listen, I am sure the listening will be intense and serious. Subsequently, MT would have a better chance to elaborate and present his sharing to the board. Meaning, the One Minute question leads to more time given. Instead of just hearing, now he has to listen with attentiveness. I hope MT understood my explanation.

My understanding in life; "Listening is an art. To make others to listen is a skill."