The serious and sometimes satirical reflections of a priest, poet, and pilgrim — who knowing he has not obtained the goal, presses on in a Godward direction.
May 14, 2011
A Personal Practice I Commend
To make people feel interesting and listened to, actually take interest in and listen to them.
Tobias, I seem to remember a dinner with three other talking types, and, if memory serves, there was a bit of talking over one another. Anyway, we laughed a lot, perhaps, at times, at our own witticisms.
However, you are correct. Listening is a learned art, one that we would all do well to cultivate. I know how gratifying it is to be in the company of a deep listener.
I find people tend to get rather frustrated if people never act on what they say. Its not just listening, it's enabling them to take their part in decision making for the church, even if they don't turn up to meetings and you have to go round, canvass their opinions, and pass them on.
True, Robert, when that is the sort of thing people are sharing -- something that calls for action. It can be very frustrating indeed to be asked an opinion on a certain action and then be completely ignored! I was thinking more of those conversations where someone is simply sharing something about themselves, not a proposal for a program or suggestion for action.
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Errh, do we have to think what they say is important enough to actually do something on the basis of it?
ReplyDeleteThat, of course, depends. I've often found that people sometimes only want to feel they've been heard, and don't expect a follow-up...
ReplyDeleteTobias, I seem to remember a dinner with three other talking types, and, if memory serves, there was a bit of talking over one another. Anyway, we laughed a lot, perhaps, at times, at our own witticisms.
ReplyDeleteHowever, you are correct. Listening is a learned art, one that we would all do well to cultivate. I know how gratifying it is to be in the company of a deep listener.
I find people tend to get rather frustrated if people never act on what they say. Its not just listening, it's enabling them to take their part in decision making for the church, even if they don't turn up to meetings and you have to go round, canvass their opinions, and pass them on.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Mimi, that was a party atmosphere!
ReplyDeleteTrue, Robert, when that is the sort of thing people are sharing -- something that calls for action. It can be very frustrating indeed to be asked an opinion on a certain action and then be completely ignored! I was thinking more of those conversations where someone is simply sharing something about themselves, not a proposal for a program or suggestion for action.