Why are so many of us bad at listening?

Outstanding managers are always good communicators, and good communicators are always good listeners, says Peter Hughes.

- Peter Hughes

The festive season is approaching. It’s been a good year for the business and the managing director (MD) is in a relaxed and benevolent mood. He calls the production manager into his office.

“Joe, you might have heard that tomorrow morning at 9am there’s going to be a total eclipse of the sun.”

Joe nods and the MD continues: “It’s a rare occurrence. Let’s get the workforce out to watch it. I’ll explain the phenomenon, but if it’s cloudy or raining, let’s assemble in the canteen.”

Joe meets the department head. “Sid, by order of the MD there’s going to be a total eclipse of the sun at nine tomorrow. If it’s raining we’ll follow the disappearance of the sun in the canteen. This is not something we will see happening every day.”

At the afternoon meeting with his section managers, Sid announces: “Guys, the MD has decided that we should follow the disappearance of the sun in the canteen at nine o’clock tomorrow morning. He’ll tell us whether it’s going to rain, which doesn’t happen every day.”

The section managers pass it on to their foremen: “If it’s raining in the canteen tomorrow morning, which is something that we don’t see happen every day, the MD will disappear at nine o’clock.”