Totally Missed That
It's annual Goals & Objectives setting time in our office and all of the managers are meeting with their staffs to go through how we did, and what we'd like to do. It's a process that is both daunting and rewarding. In the process this year I was unexpectedly reminded of the power of listening.
And not just listening with our ears.
People are giving us clues all the time to how they are feeling, what they are thinking and how they're generally moving through life. Someone can give an "All Clear" signal verbally but physically be shouting they are not ok. Or more importantly, a collection of events over time all come together to paint a picture we can't see with a simple question and answer.
We need to care enough about each other to really pay attention to what's happening around us.
This is not just for managers, but also for those reporting to a manager, or just in general each other. If we don't look beyond our limited perception, we can miss something valuable, if not critical to another person. And in the same way, if we don't speak up or simply acknowledge our own needs to others, we are inadvertently preventing ourselves from getting the support or change that we need.
Too often we spend our lives hindering our communication, blocking ourselves and others from seeing a full picture and experiencing everything that's possible for us. And we totally miss opportunities for our own growth and success.