Have you ever had a moment where you heard yourself say something and immediately wished you could take it back? It happens to nearly everyone sooner or later, and it usually happens because we didn't take the time to think about what we were about to say. Learning to reflect before you speak can take a lot of practice, but don't get discouraged—with time, you can learn to be more thoughtful and deliberate when you're talking to people.
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QuestionHow can I be a better listener?Sandra Possing is a life coach, speaker, and entrepreneur based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sandra specializes in one-on-one coaching with a focus on mindset and leadership transformation. Sandra received her coaching training from The Coaches Training Institute and has seven years of life coaching experience. She holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles.Oftentimes, we listen to people only to be able to respond with whatever we think is right. In order to practice true listening, try remaining quiet to really hear what the other person is saying. Listen with curiosity and a desire to understand their perspective. That can open us up to so many new things.
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QuestionA girl told me something personal about her private life, and I shared it. I apologized to both her and her parents for what I did. What should I do?Community AnswerThose apologies were a good first step. Why not ask her what else you can do to make it right?
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QuestionI can't apologize, I find it really hard. Is there anything that you recommend?Community AnswerTry to avoid doing things that require an apology. You will have to take more time before speaking to achieve this. However, it's human nature to make mistakes, so eventually you're going to have to apologize for something you've said or done. There are some good tips on how to do so in Say You're Sorry .
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References
- ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
- ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/18/pausing-before-you-speak-can-help-you-be-a-more-effective-communicator.html
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2020/07/youve-been-called-out-for-a-microaggression-what-do-you-do
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/diane-gottsman/communication-etiquette-that-works-in-the-workplace.html
- ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/jayson-demers/7-subtle-conversation-habits-of-powerful-people.html
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/i-can-relate/201406/why-we-cant-keep-our-mouths-shut
- ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/18/pausing-before-you-speak-can-help-you-be-a-more-effective-communicator.html
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/diane-gottsman/communication-etiquette-that-works-in-the-workplace.html
- ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/i-can-relate/201406/why-we-cant-keep-our-mouths-shut
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/jayson-demers/7-subtle-conversation-habits-of-powerful-people.html
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/lee-colan/think-before-you-speak.html
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/i-can-relate/201406/why-we-cant-keep-our-mouths-shut
- ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/jayson-demers/7-subtle-conversation-habits-of-powerful-people.html
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/jayson-demers/7-subtle-conversation-habits-of-powerful-people.html
- ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/251290
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/diane-gottsman/communication-etiquette-that-works-in-the-workplace.html
- ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/251290
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2020/07/youve-been-called-out-for-a-microaggression-what-do-you-do
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2020/07/youve-been-called-out-for-a-microaggression-what-do-you-do
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