Taking time to listen

Our culture is obsessed with efficiency hacks, time-savers, and technology that accelerates progress. Given the choice, we often default to faster.

Faster computer processor.
Faster service.
Faster shipping.
Faster recovery.
Faster learning.

But faster isn’t always better.

Sometimes the best things come from taking time. This is certainly true of listening. We can’t rush it.

Slowing down enough to truly hear what someone else is saying (whether through words, actions, or body language) can be hard. Especially when we’re constantly pressured to move faster.

The time we spend being present and actively listening may seem inefficient. Or we might think it’s sufficient to hear the first bit and then fill the rest in ourselves.

But time spent listening is time well spent. Part of cultivating empathy is learning to slow down and listen.

Here’s to less rushing and more listening.