The human body is a very well designed machine. We have a brain that
does swift calculations, makes great decisions, and drives the body through its
motions each and every day. We have limbs that do various things, like walking
grasping, pulling, pushing, climbing, and other motions that get us from one
place to another. All in all, the human body is fairly fantastic in its design
and performance.
Consider two parts of the body, the eyes and the ears. The eyes see
whatever is within our vision range, and the ears hear whatever is within our
realm of hearing. They are input devices, like a computer keyboard or a mouse.
They absorb what they see or hear and input the information to our brains so
that those brains can make decisions with that data. We input information so
that our processors can churn through the data and give us the benefit of that
processing.
We also have a mouth, that wonderful body part that provides our voice
to the world. This is an output device, much like a computer monitor or
printer. With the mouth, our brain can communicate our thoughts to others,
providing input to their ears and even allowing their eyes to see our feelings
though smiles, grimaces, and sneers. Did you ever hear the expression “an angry
mouth”?
We have all heard the advice that we have been given two
eyes and two ears, but only one mouth. That means that we should intake twice
as much information through our eyes and ears as opposed to the information
that we put forth through our mouths. In other words, look and listen twice as
much as you speak. Unfortunately, we cannot resist the urge to speak, speak,
and speak some more. We babble and pollute the ears, and eyes, of whomever we
have targeted with our words.
Our brains are marvelous devices that work wonders with our
bodies, multitasking all the time, even when we are asleep. However, our brains
cannot, on their own, stop us from vomiting words all over the people with whom
we meet and speak. We must make a conscious decision to stop all the talk and
speak only when we think seriously about what we are saying. Then, and only
then, can we build relationships with others.
Appreciation
Marketing implies that we should listen to the needs of others,
attempt to solve those needs for others, and provide information to others that
will help them in their quest for improvement and success. We cannot know what
someone needs unless we listen to them, observe them as they are speaking with
us, and attempt to solve their needs. We cannot solve their needs if we do not
listen and hear their cries for help.
Have you ever listened to yourself speak? Perhaps the next
time you meet with someone, ask if you can record the conversation. Then play
it back and count the number of times you speak to them before you listen, the
number of times you cut their words off, answering their questions before they
finish them, or the number of times you try to fix something about them before
you hear what it is that is broken.
We all have two eyes and two ears to receive input from
others. We only have one mouth to provide output to others. Don’t be the person
who vomits words all over someone, before you know what it is that they need to
hear from you. Don’t be the person who others say: “He never listens before he
tries to sell”. Please leave me your comments, or email me at Jim@JimTeasley.com,
or call me at 360-314-8691.
No comments:
Post a Comment