2
SEEK TO UNDERSTAND
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If I were to summarize in one sentence the single most important principle I’ve learned in the field of interpersonal relations, it would be this: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
—Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
By recognizing what’s not being said and then seeking to better understand the truth you uncover, you’ll be in a position to move on to the next step in the Cycle of Active Listening.
To become a better listener at work, you must seek to understand. That means stepping outside those experiences that shaped how you see the world, so you can gain an understanding of what drives other people.
In a recent group listening session I facilitated for a client, I had an interaction ...
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