W.I.N. Wednesday: Lessons From Life's Most Powerful Question - I don't care how you are. It is just something I say.
How are you?
How many times have you asked that question or some version of it? How many times have you been asked the question?
How many times have you actually listened to the answer? When I say listened, I do not mean just the words, but the tone, the inflection, the emotion behind what is said, or perhaps more important, what is not said.
For many people "How are you?" has become just words that flow from their lips without thought and without concern for the response.
We should really stop the charade and just say, "I really don't care how you are or how you are feeling but I am going to ask anyways to appear to be polite so don't feel bad if I do not appear to be paying attention to the answer. After a trite response please feel free to ask me the same question and not care about the answer either." How are you? is just so much easier.
What's Important Now? - If you are going to ask the question then pause and truly listen to the answer. If you sense something is wrong or troubling the person take the time to ask followup questions. You might just be surprised at people's reactions when they realize you actually care how they are.
Take care.
Brian Willis
Committed to the pursuit of excellence through Life's Most Powerful Question - What's Important Now?
Contact me at winningmind@mac.com if you would like to have me speak to your team, your organization or at your conference.