Ask questions

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying closed mouths don’t get fed? You’ll never get what you don’t ask for.

It’s plain and simple, how are you supposed to get that raise at work if you don’t ask?

You think it’s owed to you? Maybe it is, but you’ll never get it if you don’t ask.

You’ll miss 100% of the chances you don’t take.

You need to step outside of your comfort zone and ask the hard questions.

You want a raise at work? Ask.

You want to take that girl at the coffee shop out for a date? Ask.

Ask the right questions and all kinds of doors will open.

People will think you’re a great conversationalist if you ask a question and listen.

If they do 90% of the talking, and just listen to what they have to say.

If you ask the other person after the interaction “how was that conversation?”

They’ll swear they’ve had one of the best conversations they’ve had in a long time.

Why?

People love to hear themselves talk, they’re interested in what they have to say. Most people are self centered and are thinking about what they’re going to say next before they’re done speaking.

The most pleasant word in any language to hear is “your name”

The conversation usually reflects that self centeredness. While they’re talking, they’re not truly listening. They are forming they’re next thought.

That’s why so many people are bad listeners. Are you really listening? Or are you spending the whole course of the conversation thinking about what you’re going to say next?

Try really listening…

Almost all interactions are self centered. You have a purpose behind most interactions, remember other people do too.

If someone is approaching you, they usually have an agenda.

Cleopatra was a world renowned seductress of her time and one of her famed seduction techniques was her listening skills.

She would make the most powerful men of her time feel “heard” and then take that away, and they would chase her around the world.

It was part of her seduction.

So asking questions and listening to the answer can be put to great use if done correctly.