The Best Way to Value People

The best way to make a person feel valued and valuable is to listen intently while they are speaking to you. The common tendency with most people unintentionally sends a message of disrespect or disinterest in the speaker’s words. People listen for a gap or pause in the conversation waiting impatiently for their opportunity to speak.

Even worse than listening for an opportunity to speak is the fact that all the time the speaker is expressing their thoughts, the listener is usually thinking about what they plan to say. If the listener is waiting for a gap to speak and thinking about how to present their own thoughts, how can there ever be a meaningful conversation? Is it any wonder that couples, business associates and even political leaders have difficulty understanding each other? How can we truly communicate if we never really listen to the other person’s point of view?

My father was a man of few words. When he spoke, it was very clear to my brother and me that we would be very wise to listen and act appropriately. One thing he said which has stayed with me all these years was, “You never learn anything new with your own mouth open.” In other words, in order to learn something new, it is important to stop speaking and listen to someone else.

It is a known fact that people will do more for recognition than for money. The easiest way we can show recognition and value to another person is by truly listening to them. Listening to show genuine interest, not listening to present an angle for personal gain.

How many times do you observe a business conversation where the listener is only listening in order to pick up clue on how to sell you something? This is even more common in an MLM or network marketing interaction. People listen to pick up information to use to close the sale. This is so common in business conversations that it is no wonder people are cautious.

Think about your conversations with friends, your children, your significant other. How many times do you focus on their words and demonstrate how much they mean to you by truly listening. Listen because you really care about their thoughts and feelings. People never care as much about what you know until they know how much you care.

Pay attention to your conversations today and really listen with the full intention of hearing their words and understanding their thoughts. You will be amazed at how much it improves every facet of your relationships.

Listening to people makes them feel valued and valuable. After all, you want them to listen to you. Right? Set the example by first listening to them.