Talk More and Listen Less
Are you the type of person whose opinion is not heard because of you not speaking up? Do you always sit there (like an object) and listen to others? Do you find yourself getting crazy and not wanting to know about all their problems and stuff? Don't you think it's more fair that they also know about your personal stuff, opinions, thoughts and feelings?
Contents
Steps
- Listen less. First you need to stop listening to others all the time. Listening less is better sometimes, because when you listen to everything people say, you may become preoccupied with their problems. Listening also requires more energy.
- Talk, talk, talk! Talk more. Don't rehearse it internally, just speak.
- Ignore others' reactions of surprise. If you are used to being a good listener, but a poor talker and others are surprised that you speak up your mind, ignore their reactions. After all, you have been listening to their things for years, now they need to listen.
- Your opinion matters.
Tips
- Do not feel guilty for having arguments sometimes. Arguments are part of the normal communication.
- If you know that your ideas are too controversial and you will be laughed at, alter them, so they sound more attractive to your audience. However, do not change the main meaning in order to please them. Don't forget that it's your idea after all. Or you could just let them laugh.
- Remember that all popular people are talkative, but not all talkative people are popular. However, being a little-less-than-popular is better than being a quiet nerd-like person.
Warnings
- Do not be too critical. A common mistake of most people, who have been quiet for along time and now try to speak up their minds, is that they focus more on the negative things. They become overly critical of others. You should say both positive and negative things to other people, because talking only about others' flaws will make you look like a hater. Also, do not go too far with sarcasm and irony.
- Your peers may try to be outspoken to you and make you stop talking. Such a reaction means that they are poor listeners. It's their problem, not yours.
- Although you need to learn how to listen less, don't go on always not listening to others, because people will start thinking you're self-absorbed and puffed up.
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