Listening is a very important aspect of communication and it's very necessary that we communicate effectively in any form of relationship we find ourselves. I once shared a post where I talked about friendship. I can remember saying that according to Author Frank Tyger;
Friendship consists of a willing ear, an understanding heart, and a helping hand.
So here is the new gist, at what point in any relationship do you offer a willing ear with an understanding heart or do you lend a helping hand? When anyone or a friend has a problem, some people are just too quick to do something, it doesn't really matter what they are doing, just so long they are doing something to fix the situation which is not totally right.
There are some problems that are person related and don't have a solution,and in cases like this, our friends share their problem with us not necessarily because they want a solution but because they want someone to listen to them with empathy. Someone,who will listen to understand and not to reply, someone who will give them advice because they understand them.
On the other hand there are some problems, that are object related and actually have practical solutions and in this case, our friends may share their problems with us not just because they want us to listen with empathy but because they want us to also lend a helping hand.
Knowing when to listen and when to act is a useful skill to develop and the first step to identify whether someone's situation needs just a listening ear with an understanding heart or needs a helping hand is to listen with empathy. Ie. Listening to understand them and not to reply or profer solution. You cannot profer solution to a problem without diagnosing the problem and to do this you need to listen to the person with full and rapt attention and with eye contact.
If a situation requires listening with empathy(showing sympathy,giving kind words and emotional advice),then give it.If it requires acting like meeting someone's financial need, then do it. Don't act when you are supposed to listen and don't listen when you are supposed to act. Doing what is needed per time helps us maintain strong and healthy relationships with others!
Thanks for reading!
