In yesterday's post, I shared about my commitment and challenge to "Seek First To Understand", and today my focus is "To Be Understood". Knowing how to be understood is the other half of this important habit, and is crucial in the principle of empathic communication, and in interdependent situations.
"Seeking to understand requires consideration; seeking to be understood requires courage" ~ Stephen Covey
In seeking to be understood, it's important for us to share our hearts and present our ideas clearly, specifically and contextually - in a context of a deep understanding of people's paradigms, concerns and perspectives. Don't just get hung up on your 'own thinking'. What you present may even be different from what you had originally thought because in your effort to 'seek first to understand', you learned and grew!
I believe this habit is something we can all practice straight away. Next time you communicate with someone, you can put aside your own autobiography (as Covey puts it) and sincerely seek first to understand, then to be understood. Show understanding and respect, be discerning, sensitive, and aware as we share our different perceptions of certain ideas and situations.
I've just seeked to be understood through this post. How about you share a bit about yourself so I can understand you more?
1 comment:
I am seriously consider following your challenges kitty.
Simon
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