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Happy second full week of the new year, all! And welcome to all of you who joined since last e-mail <3.
I’m easing into 2019 slowly. Verrrry slowly. In part on purpose, I like to savor that blank-slate-new-year vibe as long as I can, and also because I got hit with that stomach bug going around, so mother-nature sort of induced the slowness on me ;).
What I “lost” in productivity time, I gained in reflection time, and what’s come out of that is a focus for this year.
I haven’t really set an intention, but something I’m going to be paying more mind to is: being a better listener. I’m proud of how I’ve strengthened this muscle over the years, but there’s more work to do.
I’ve started to re-read a great book called Listen Up. I recommend it.
I look back at 2018 and I see how with better listening I could have navigated certain experiences with more grace, focus and, ultimately, could have nurtured more collaborative value.
Better listening, to me, means paying attention to what I’m hearing explicitly IN ADDITION to paying attention to “the note behind the note,” the implicit vibe from a conversation or interaction, aka what may not necessarily be said in words but what’s being expressed in energy--resistance, mood etc. (I heard this “note behind the note” saying from a friend years ago and it stuck).
When we build from this place, ruthlessly listening to ourselves and on high-alert listening to others, we’re able to save time, make intentional decisions and cultivate more win-win outcomes. And it’s from there we’re able to build healthier, thriving businesses.
To listening better and to building even bigger, together, in 2019 and beyond.
Wishing you all a great weekend,
Alison
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