Mission For Today: Ask And Listen

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Mission For Today: Ask Someone What Is Important To Them At Work. Listen.

You have been sitting next to and working with Luke for six months.  You greet each other every morning, talk about the weekend, and ask about the kids.  How well do you really know Luke?  Do you know what he likes best about his job?  What he likes least about his job?  Is he excited about going to work every day? Is he getting what he needs to deliver what the business needs?

Whether you are Luke’s manager or just the person sitting next to him, the best way to find out what motivates him is to listen.  Ask him what is important to him, what he likes or doesn’t like.  Ask him what he needs. After you ask a question, stop talking and listen. He may not tell you everything right away. It takes time to build that trust. Still, make sure you take the time to ask him what he thinks and then listen to the answer. Show you’re listening by reflecting what you have heard and understood.  Improve your understanding by asking more questions related to what he is saying.

In our busy world, our days are filled with telling and talking.  Take a little time today and listen. It may make a big difference to someone and you will learn something to understand them better.

When you have completed this mission, please share your experience in the comments.

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