Why is Listening More Important Than Speaking?

Have you ever stuck your foot in your mouth? Have you ever said something that you regret? Have you ever come to a conclusion and realized you were way off?

Well, here are 3 Powerful Reasons why listening is more important than speaking.

1. You will seek a better understanding
2. You will build a better relationship
3. You will accomplish more when you shut your mouth

By listening before speaking, your life, your relationships, and your communication skills will all improve.

1. You will seek a better understanding.

In Stephen Covey's book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", Habit 5 states: "Seek first to understand, then to be understood."

The most important thing in a relationship is communication. Communication is key. But communication does not mean mouthing off your opinion without first trying to understand your partner and his or her side of things.

The only way to understand a person is by listening. Questions, opinions, answers, may be given at the end. Gather the information first. If you have as much information as possible, then you may begin to understand the problem.

2. You will build a better relationship

Listening is key to building a better relationship with your spouse, partner, your kids, and even your co-workers and boss. Communication is so important in a relationship with a spouse or significant other, but we do not always impress that idea on the relationships we have with our manager at work, someone we run into on the street, or the relationship with our child or children.

Have you heard a parent say, "I don't understand my 9 year old son." Or, "I don't understand my teenage daughter." Most of the time a parent doesn't understand because their approach to understanding is to tell their child not to speak because they "don't want to hear it." Then they say they don't understand their child.

How do you expect to understand a child, understand anyone for that matter, if you don't want to hear what they have to say?

To build a better relationship, start with communication. Try to discover how the person feels by just listening and keeping your mouth shut; then give their feelings a label that both of you can identify with and in turn, they may feel you understand 'where they are coming from' and the communication, your relationship, can grow from there.

3. You will accomplish more when you shut your mouth

Hold back on your opinion - they might not want to hear it. It could make a simple venting session spawn into an argument because you have a different opinion. All the person may want is your ear so they can vent. If you practice this daily, in every relationship you have: work, family, the barista at Starbucks, you may easily find yourself in more win-win situations than lose-lose situations.

Who doesn't like to win? Especially when you don't have to do anything but listen.

Yes, communication is the key to every successful relationship. But part of communication is more than speaking your mind. Listen first. Seek to understand. Then, with the information that you have gathered - you can then open your mouth and let it all out if need be. Or heck, just lock that mouth up and throw a way the key!