Top 12 Quotes About Listening (Part 1 of 4)

Listening is not a new concept.  People agree that in order to learn, you must first listen to the available information before you begin to make sense of it.  In business, listening is quite helpful: when you listen to what your customers are saying, they will actually tell you what they want.  No need for guesswork!  The best insights come directly from consumers; they have been and always will be a very valuable resource in shaping and improving a company.

Today, there are tons of people talking on the Internet… I mean billions ! of people (read: consumers) with their own personal blogs and videos and photos and twitter profiles and whatever other social media site comes up next.  All of these people have opinions and many are choosing to openly share their thoughts in a very public way: through the web.  Listening to the web is becoming mission-critical for all the consumer-driven industries out there (Automotive, Consumer Packaged Goods, Financial Services, Government, Hospitality, Insurance, Retail, Technology).

Don’t take my word for it.  Begin the count down of the top 12 quotes about listening (in four parts)!

Part 1: Quotes 12-10

12. “To listen well, is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well, and is as essential to all true conversation.” – Chinese Proverb

Comment: Let’s put the act of listening and the act of talking on the SAME level.  They are equal in importance (although I think that in the long-run listening is more important than talking).  Emphasis on the word “true” – a good synonym might be “genuine” – we’ve all been in a conversation where the other person is obviously NOT listening and it’s NOT a good feeling.  [And if you were wondering, I did NOT get this quote from a fortune cookie.]

11. “To listen closely and reply well is the highest perfection we are able to attain in the art of conversation.” – Francois de La Rochefoucauld (noted French author and accomplished 17th-century nobleman)

Comment: Might as well substitute in the word “business” for the word “conversation.”  Isn’t this what it’s all about? Listen to the market, pay attention to what’s going on, and act accordingly.  French noblemen from the 17th century get it.  Do you?

10. “We have two ears and one mouth and should use them in that proportion.” – Epictetus (Greek Stoic Philosopher who lived 55-135 AD)

Comment: What a cheeky man that Epictetus was!  What this guy is saying: “You should listen twice as much as you talk.” Not a bad rule to follow.  Plus, with all that listening you’re doing, it’s guaranteed to make you smarter!

Stay tuned for 9-7!