Maegan Stephens and Nicole Lowenbraun

That is the way you naturally listen.

So here's where it gets interesting.

Now when you know someone's goal, you get to decide, am I going to listen the way that's easier for me, or am I going to adapt to help them meet their needs?

You might have already spotted your said listening style, but if not, let's go through each one.

You might be a support listener if you're listening in a group and you get frustrated when not every voice gets a chance to contribute.

And that's because support listeners prioritize other people's emotions, so they want every voice in the room to be heard.

You might be an advanced listener if you get frustrated when you get to the end of the meeting and no one's made a decision.

Or everyone's looking around going, so what's next?

That is because advanced listeners prioritize forward momentum.

And for better or worse, that is me.

You might be an immersed listener if you get frustrated when people start jumping in and offering options.

before all of the context and background has been shared.

And that's because immersed listeners prioritize the content, so they want the full picture.

And you might be a discerned listener if you get frustrated when people jump to solutions a little too quickly.

And that is because discerned listeners prioritize evaluation.

They want to spot all the pitfalls before they give the yes.

That's Nicole.

That's me.

Sometimes I get a reputation for being a naysayer, but I swear I have noble intentions because I want to make sure we don't fall face first into a dark hole no one saw coming.

So sometimes your said listening style matches up perfectly with the goals listening is very easy.