This is the #1 Thing Great Communicators Do

The best Communicators in the world… Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Mother Teresa, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Teddy Roosevelt all do (or did) one thing.

They listen.

Not just to respond — as most of us do — but to understand, connect, and learn.

They listen and discover peoples’ hopes and dreams, they unearth their darkest fears, and their greatest passions.

These communicators discover what people really want and need, and they learn how they could better serve others.

Still, The reason why great communicators listen — often more than they speak — is because they are — at a bare minimum — curious and empathetic people.

They want to learn as much as they can. They want to learn how they can better serve their customers, their constituents, or simply the person right in front of them.

Furthermore, their ability to listen is probably their greatest asset, and one of the biggest factors in their success.

Oprah Winfrey would not have connected with her audience if she didn’t listen deeply and connect with her guests.

Barack Obama might not have become the President, if he didn’t know to listen to the ailments of this country.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may not have been inspired to become Representative of the House if she didn’t listen and learn that there was a serious gap in how her community were being served.

Ultimately, these great communicators connected on a deep level with other people, no matter how large their audience was.

But, what does this mean for us?

It means that the best way for us to become great communicators, is not through learning to speak powerfully — though that helps. The best way is to develop our ability to listen to others and empathize with their situation in life.

Therefore, next time you are in conversation, remind yourself to be 100% present. Really zone in and listen to who you are conversing with. Ask questions, try to understand them, don’t interrupt; and watch as your life changes over time.