Listening – the underrated communications superpower

Why is listening important?

The vestibular system has popped up in my cultural consumption (aka bingeing) a couple of times recently. It’s part of the nervous system that provides us with an awareness of the spatial position and motion of the head and body. Basically, it helps keep us balanced – to know which way is up, and how to right ourselves when disoriented. 

A wonderful piece of fiction by Abraham Verghese explores a genetic ‘Condition’ of extreme water-borne disorientation, leading to a series of strange drowning events within generations of a family living in the watery clime of Kerala in south India. And in felines, according to this Netflix documentary, the vestibular system informs their incredible balance and agility, enabling them to ‘always land on their feet’. Sounds like a pretty important biological mechanism, right?

The system is present in most vertebrates (birds have two of them!), as well as some invertebrates, and in mammals is often located in the inner ear. In humans, this system includes canals which contain a fluid that swishes around as the head is rotated, exerting pressure on sensory receptors (it seems to operate like a spirit level).

So whilst we might not think of it much, without this system we can easily lose our sense of balance and direction, with irritating, nauseating (vertigo is one related pathology) and potentially fatal consequences.

Finding balance in our business communications

Learning about this biological marvel prompted a reflection on what our business communications vestibular system may be. What are the structures and mechanisms that tell us when we are off-track?  

Following the body’s innate wisdom that places this system in the inner ear – perhaps listening plays n important role in gaining this kind of critical feedback in our professional worlds. Because the way in which we listen can greatly affect our sense of balance and direction:

• How we invite and receive input in meetings and commentary on documents

• How we ask for customer feedback, reviews and testimonials (and what we do with that information)

• How we conduct market research

If we embark on these activities in an offhand or disingenuous way, we may not receive quality data. Even rushing can have an adverse impact. Listening takes time – compared to other sensory systems like sight, touch and sound, vestibular input is perceived with delay.  

When approached with attention and care, quality listening enables us to hear what is important, identify causes of disharmony, and receive greater insights. In today’s world, listening is often overshadowed by more outward, active focii: how we present, our business ‘Voice’ and what we ‘put out there’. But whichever business we’re in, listening may be a rare skill that supercharges our output and relationships. Like my English teacher Mr Condon used to say – there’s a reason we have 2 ears and 1 mouth.  

So, I invite all of us (myself included) to get better at listening, to seek out feedback that may put us off kilter – but which allows us to relocate our centre. Here’s to finding and maintaining greater balance and ease in communications.

BTW I’m putting these on my reading list:
Power Listening: Mastering the Most Critical Business Skill of All
How to Listen with Intention: The Foundation of True Connection, Communication, and Relationships