Every professional knows the importance of communication in the office, but we often neglect communication's unsung hero: listening. This week our new Downtown D.C. Training Room played host to the Listening: The Superhero of Communication workshop.
Facilitator Lou Hampton, a communications professional with 30 years experience and CEO of The Hampton Group, used our 50-person training room to its full potential, guiding a group of captivated tenants in our shared office space on a journey to realize their full listening potential. The state of the art training room takes meeting space to the next level featuring a projector, screen, two high definition televisions, and a sound system with a microphone for the speaker.One of the ideas Lou Hampton shared that can be put to great use in a virtual office, physical office, or meeting room is the 4 C's of Listening:
1. Choice- You must choose to listen, it is a concerted effort.
2. Commitment- Commit to listening to the speaker, give them your undivided attention.
3. Confidence- Have confidence in the speaker, believe that they are knowledgeable and capable of communicating.
4. Concern- Be concerned with what the speaker is saying, this will help you have a better understanding of the message.
Take these tips into your next meeting or training session and you may find that listening is your hidden super power.
