Stop, Look and Listen – Three Steps to Better Communication

April 10, 2011 Communication Skills Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

I’m not naturally good at listening. Listening is a skill that has taken effort for me to develop. I have to force myself to slow down and take in what the other person is saying rather than focus on what I am going to say next.

Recently, in thinking about the skill of listening, the phrase “stop, look and listen” came to me. It seems applicable to developing the skill for listening, not just for trains, but in the midst of conversation. Here is why I think this phrase is helpful:

Stop – stop the self focused mental process so that I can hear and understand what the other person is saying. Decide to really hear.
Look – Look at the other person. Make eye contact. Observe his body language. Take in all the clues to communication.
Listen – By stopping and looking, I am now in a position to listen.

So, the suggestion to stop, look and listen will help you at a railroad crossing and in your next conversation.

What are some other suggestion you have for developing the skill of listening?

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Thinking out loud – The Church and Political Process

Thinking out loud often gets me into trouble, but being slow to learn, I thought I’d record some thoughts prompted by a conversation. Waiting in line to get some pizza at the Costco snack bar, we met a couple that we recognized from church but did not know well. We ended up getting to know […]

Failure: The Unintended Consequence of Success

This is a guest post by Todd Pylant whose biographical information appears in the author box below this post. If you would like to provide a guest post to Attempts at Honesty, please see the guest post guidelines and contact me if you are interested in providing a post. The writer of Hebrews demonstrated faith […]

My god is too small

My problem is a belief problem. What I truly believe is indicated by my actions and when I observe my behavior, I must confess that my god is too small.

Why I Hate Religion – Reaction to a Reaction

A poem recorded on video entitled “Why I Hate Religion” has become very popular on YouTube. The video is well done and asks some important questions. A response to the video by Kevin DeYoung sparks some dialog about some points made in the poem. Watch the video, read Kevin DeYoung’s response and offer comment on this post. But most of all examine the claims of Jesus Christ.

A reason for boasting

For the most part, I really don’t enjoy listening to postgame, on-field interviews of athletes. If the interviewee is on the winning side, too often the interview amounts to boasting about how he is faster, stronger or smarter than his opponent. We live in a day where self-promotion is encouraged and expected. This is an aspect […]