As a seasoned Certified Master Business Coach in Tempe for over 15 years who has accelerated the success of hundreds of regional entrepreneurs, I consider myself an expert on professional relationship building. My secret weapon? Listening with intention sparks connection, fostering an environment where people open up and share.
In our increasingly distracted digital age of ever-shrinking attention spans, the ability to truly tune into someone without interjecting or checking texts is an exceptionally rare skill. At its core, it’s about building trust, credibility, and strong bonds – the foundation for word-of-mouth endorsements. Amidst the whirlwind of daily tasks, it’s still possible to salvage your valuable expertise – here’s how.
Listening Like a Goldfish No More
Let’s be honest – between texts, emails, YouTube, and TikTok, most human attention spans now rival that of goldfish at just 8 seconds. But parasitic social apps need not condition company leaders’ listening capabilities the same way. When was the last time you observed a family at dinner all ignoring one another to scroll?
Growth-oriented companies recognize scattered listening’s business harms. They invest in communication reeducation rediscovering lost skills, starting from the top down. From sales teams that shut laptops, giving prospects full faculty to founders exhibiting extreme listening focus with journalists seeking startup insights for feature stories, organizations reclaiming audience abilities for the digital age regain influence.
Sometimes, we get hit with surprises that shout, “pay attention; you need to adjust your listening skills.” Master coaches like myself must model extreme presence, earning trust and referrals through engaged discussion without intrusive devices. I advise clients to let competitors chatter aimlessly while asking thoughtful questions.
The Power of Being Heard
Here’s a secret entrepreneurial truth – prospects will literally tell you how to sell to them if you shut up and open your ears. People crave being heard and will vent about challenges if shown the slightest interest. Few things build goodwill faster than listening to others’ frustrations and giving the gift of feeling understood.
Yet so many in sales barrage people with lip service and talking points instead of intentionally listening. The highest-performing businesses sit with prospects like counselors to isolate true unmet needs. They hear what keeps clients up at night to architect bespoke solutions.
Better Business Through Listening
While I shouldn’t have to preach listening’s impact on personal relationships, even longtime couples often struggle here. But deployed in entrepreneurship, excellent listening bears tangible business fruits, including:
- Stronger Partnerships – Asking thoughtful questions while fully focused on a prospect’s every word demonstrates respect that builds lasting B2B bonds.
- Insight to Upsell – Truly understanding a client’s pain points inevitably reveals additional related problems your offerings address.
- Organic Referrals – Earning people’s trust gets your services talked up to associates.
So, while devices and distractions compete more than ever for attention, the leaders who consistently listen pave avenues to success. There are still eager ears out there if we tune out tech’s noise. Get in touch with me, Danny Creed, for strategies to enhance your listening capabilities to the next level.
