
You do not take this for granted…
Not all people have the gift to be a good listener. It entertains me when I talk to someone and I know that the person is not interested on what I’m saying. I’m not the type to call their attention. But when I feel the conversation won’t get anywhere, I do emphasize a point and make a graceful exit.
I remember a chat with an acquaintance who can never be my friend. She would ask me how I am but her eyeballs would be scanning the place for people she’s looking for. I usually shut down when this happens. I’d rather rest my voice. At my age, I appreciate mindful conversations with people who are willing to listen because I’d do the same way.
Listening is something that’s taken for granted. It’s a gift for some and it’s a skill for others to develop. We can be good writers and reporters, but if we mindfully listen, we can be better writers and reporters. We come to an interview with a set of questions in mind but the real story comes when we listen attentively to what our interviewee is saying. You will be amazed at the extent someone shares when they know you are listening.
In my years of experience interviewing people, I have never taken for granted the time someone gives for that interview. Having common interests is a good start for a conversation. It’s so easy nowadays to research about people you will meet. There’s facebook, instagram, twitter, flickr and many others to know one’s recent travel, state of mind, political views, favorite food, hang out place and many more. But what excites me is when you find reason to start dissecting those interests because you see their face light up, or because talking about something elicited an emotion. If you’re an interviewer, you’d feel the excitement touching a part of life that you never expected they will be transparent about. Your eyes connect and you share the same emotion with your interviewee. You’ll feel you’ve connected. You got there because you listened.
Interviews go through stages. It can start with small talks while trying to find a common ground. It branches to exploring that common denominator or trying to find out more on new information. When you sit on that interviewer chair, you start to breathe in the purpose of you being there. You look into your interviewee’s eyes when camera rolls. You start asking until you forget that there are lights and cameras on you. You ask mindful questions and you listen intently. You’d definitely know if it’s a good interview or a bad one. A good one creates interview highlights in your head and you come out happy and satisfied. You even bring the story with you to tell your family when you get home. A good interview is the result of mindful listening.
If there’s anything my 19-year broadcast career in the Philippines taught me, it’s developing the strength to be a good listener. For the thousands of personalities I’ve interviewed throughout my career, thank you for entrusting your stories to me. Thank you for opening your hearts to me.
For aspiring journalists who want to tell the stories of the world, it’s never enough that you know how to talk. You should listen and feel. The story starts when someone opens his heart to you.
-END-
