Listening
Is Contagious
by
Scott Stoner
Two things we have learned from our experience of the
coronavirus are just how interconnected we all are with each other, and how
easily and quickly a virus can spread.
These two learnings can also apply to the transmission of
our emotional states. Have you been part of a group where the leader was
chronically negative and critical? I would guess the rest of the group’s morale
and spirit eventually became negative and deflated, as well. Compare that to
how good it feels to be part of a group in which the leader is positive and
supportive. These are but small examples of how strongly our moods and spirits
can affect one another.
I coached youth
soccer when our kids were growing up, and I remember playing several games
against a team whose coach was a screamer, always yelling critical comments at
his players. It is not surprising that the players on that team yelled at each
other, and at the referee, more than any other team we ever played. Again, the
spirit of the leader was contagious.
As Margaret Wheatley says in the quote above, “Listening is a reciprocal process—we become
more attentive to others if they have attended to us.” It turns out that
listening is also contagious. Good listening invites good listening. If someone
does not even pretend to listen to us, the chances are minimal that we will
make much effort to listen in return.
When it comes to listening, the choices we make are
contagious. The question is, what kind of listening are we sharing with others?
Making
It Personal:
What do you think of the idea that listening is
contagious?
Can you think of a recent example in which you noticed
that listening (good or bad) was contagious?
What kind of listening do you think you are sharing with
others?
Living
Well Through Lent 2021
Copyright
©2021 Scott Stoner.
All
rights reserved.
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