I was on a Twitter chat tonight and a profound Tweet from @erinkoro grabbed my attention. Are you sitting down for this one?
“Listening is so 2009. Respond and engage is much more 2010.”
Ok, I remember hearing in the mall last year that ”Brown is the new black.” Oprah and other magazines wrote articles for women declaring “”50 is the new 20.” But according to this communications fiend, Erin’s words are dead-on.
We don’t live in a one-way world of communication anymore. No one likes to be ignored. The days of TV newsman Walter Cronkite appearing in a box (called a Television) in our living rooms and talking “at us” are long gone. We all have opinions, ideas, values and experiences that we like to share. The millenials want to be heard, damn it. Interactive is the name of the new game.
Erin also told me offline tonight that The ClueTrain Manifesto reminds us that “participation is the price of admission.” Amen.
Consider these opportunities to respond and engage:
- Respond and engage works for blogging
- Respond and engage works in conversations
- Respond and engage works in online groups and chats
- Respond and engage works on U-Stream
- Respond and engage works on call-in radio and TV shows
- Respond and engage works with Twitter, texts and our other gadgets
- Respond and engage works in webinars
- Respond and engage works in training classes and workshops
- Respond and engage works in networking and sales
- Respond and engage works at family dinners (as long as no one has earbuds in. Or are family dinners so 1960’s?)
While I’m not ready to dismiss listening as a 2009 fad just yet, we are existing in an interactive world. This new way of life demands our responses and engagement. It requires critical thinking skills, polished communication, and a new sense of self-confidence.
After all, if you don’t have something to say, someone else will. It will probably be your competition. Welcome to 2010.
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Interesting turn of the box, Sue. In order to respond and engage appropriately, we must first listen. I have been surprised, perhaps even scolded by others (some of whom tout themselves as social media experts) because they misread a tweet, i.e. weren’t listening. And no one likes to be misunderstood. While some folks speak of engaging, they only engage with a certain, select few. I have found quite a few gems who I now consider friends, whom I value and respect (like you) on Twitter. I have also been disappointed by others who failed to engage with me, given several opportunities. One might think that listening is a common courtesy. In fact, courtesy is becoming more uncommon, I fear – and with it, the very underrated art of listening, which is a simple act of caring. Thank you, my friend, for listening.
Thanks for your insights Kathy. I agree that listening remains essential as we become engaged and respond. You are right that Tweets and other Social Media (written) messages can quickly be misinterpreted and/or misconstrued because of a “lack of listening”–paying attention. We are so quick to fly through our gadgets and push buttons, maybe before our brains can register what’s being communicated.
I appreciate your comments, and friendship!
Susan
When we said listening is an integral part of conversation/communication, there were still people who didn’t listen. So will be the case with new 2-way communication media. Some people are more interested in pushing their ideas, rather than learning and sharing.
“Listening is so 2009. Respond and engage is much more 2010.”
I love this phrase!!! Thanks!
Susan,
Thanks for sharing your perspectives! Listening is essential for effective engagement. It remains one of the most important yet under-emphasized communications skills. Until we listen to understand another’s point-of-view, wants and needs we can’t engage in a way that is meaningful to them.
Ok folks, I must clarify the statement on listening. Indeed all of you are correct and I completely agree that listening is the key to responding and engaging. The point Erin was making (and that I concur with) is that people in our interactive world don’t want to “JUST” listen when people talk AT them, they want to participate—and be engaged.
Listening will never go out of style :)
Thanks for all of your comments!
Susan