Listen To What Others Have To Say About You.
"If you make listening and observation your occupation, you will gain much more than you can by talk." — Robert Baden-Powell.
“I’ve come across people who had the attitude I once had, and now I’ve learned to let go and imbibe the opposite.
I am one of those who never want you to speak about me. I am so guarded when I start to hear them speak about who I was or how I was with them or with someone else.
I closed my ears to their kind corrections and advice which could have helped me become better earlier than now. I never listened to them, I thought they were all judging me, and not seeing how unique I was, how unique my character was. Even a blind man could see my nastiness and rudeness from afar. I was this perfect girl who was blessed with all the curves and beauty that God can give a woman, but it got the best of me.
I perceived the side eyes and little shifts when I approached people. My close friends, thanks to them, never left me, but they protected themselves from my craziness by taking a step back.
You know, it's quite difficult to make others see the change in you when it's sudden, people will second guess if it's you being changed or you're faking it. See, Aderonke, it took a long time for people to put their trust in me again. Now, I'm a changed person, I'm calmer, I'm not up in my head anymore, I'm cool now, and I also listened to what they said back then.
Nevertheless, I think the way things are for me is because I missed the time when people were expecting the change, it was the time I blew it. However I’ve got my life lesson, which is to hear what others are saying about me, I mean the wrong aspects.”
This was the case with a vibrant lady who had a finger-biting past. It was regrettable that she had to change later when things no longer seemed to be on the good side for her, but it shouldn't be for you if you can make the effort to listen to what people are saying about you. I'm not gunning for gossip and jests, I'm talking about constructive advice and kind words that can help develop yourself into a great person.
While it can be tempting to focus solely on our perceptions of ourselves, hearing what others have to say about us can provide important insights and opportunities for improvement. Here are a few reasons why it's important to listen to what others have to say about you:
- Others may see us in ways that we do not see ourselves. Their perspectives can provide valuable insights into our strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots. By listening to what others have to say, we can gain a more well-rounded understanding of how we are perceived by those around us.
- Paying attention to what others have to say about us indicates that we value their opinions and perspectives. This can strengthen our relationships and foster trust and open communication. By being receptive to correction; good and bad, we show that we are willing to learn and grow, which can lead to more significant connections with others.
- Listening to what others have to say about us can provide beneficial insights into our behaviours, attitudes, and effect on others. Self-awareness is a key element of personal development, and feedback from others can help us gain a clearer understanding of how we come across to those around us.
How to Listen to what others have said about you:
- Accept what was said with an open mind, and try to remain non-defensive.
- Ask clarifying questions to ensure that you fully understand the advice being provided.
- Express gratitude for the correction, regardless of whether it is positive or constructive.
- Take ample time to reflect on the guidance before deciding how to act on it.
"Use their name. Express sincere gratitude. Do more listening than talking. Talk more about them than about you. Be authentically interested." — Unknown.
Listening skills are vital to your success in business and life. By actively listening to what others have to say about you, you can gain different perspectives, and growth opportunities, build stronger relationships, and improve self-awareness.
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