Who has time to listen, really?

< 2 minute read >

‍

Listening Helps

‍

If you're reading this, you're probably short on time. So we'll make this quick…

‍

Empathic Listening is the practice of actively listening to someone to understand their feelings, thoughts, and motives. It comes with a host of benefits, from building trust to problem-solving, reducing misunderstandings, and resolving conflict.

‍

But when you're running around trying to answer a call, grab a dog, respond to the person who just walked in the door, and point a volunteer in the right direction—who has time to listen, really?

‍

We believe you do, and here's why…

‍

It's easy to worry that Empathic Listening will squander your limited time. It does take time, but not more time. Listen to use your precious minutes more effectively. Here is why:

‍

• Listen up front instead of fixing problems later.  Listening is not always about spending more time with someone but when you listen. Have positive interactions first instead of wasting time later on correcting misunderstandings and dealing with avoidable issues.
• It can still be a short conversation. Empathic Listening can mean giving someone five more minutes instead of rushing through. You may also spend the same amount of time in conversation, but you are just doing more listening than talking.
• A few minutes of focused listening gets you further than multitasking. So many of us try to do many things at once—responding to an email, holding a squirmy kitten, watching a webinar, and listening to the rumblings of our hungry stomach. Multitasking can seem efficient on the surface, but it takes more time and results in more errors. Focus, and things will go more smoothly.  
• It is an investment in supporting animals and people. Sometimes, Empathic Listening requires longer, deeper conversations. Whether we make the time is not a simple question—do I have time for this? The question is - will we put the effort and time needed into the best outcomes for animals and people? Listening is an effort that helps us do our work even better. We have to invest time in listening to do our best work.

‍

No one has time for more work or the power to create a 25-hour day (and even if we did, it would immediately be full - right?) But we can all choose how we spend our time and what will help us be our best. Ensuring that you listen to pet owners, community members, and colleagues is one of those priorities you can - and should - have time for.

If you want to incorporate Empathic Listening into your work, check out our quick guide, Empathic Listening for Animal Care and Well-being. You will also like our blog post - We need empathic listening to help animals.