I’m about to share something that most of you reading this probably don’t know about me!  Are you ready?  Are you listening?  Can you hear me?  Seriously, I like Pink Floyd.  I love their music.  The bands guitar player David Gilmore is amazing.  Every time I hear them, I think of the time when I was at the Wall concert and David is up on the Wall playing this amazing guitar solo.  I get the warm fuzzies and my creative juices again are flowing.

Are you wondering? So why in the world are you sharing this!  What does all this have to do with the title?  What does this have to do with Social Media or my Business!  How can this help me?   EVERYTHING and I will explain!

The Band has a song called “Comfortably Numb”  and although I’m taking song way out of context.  There is a message here for us to learn.  It is are you listening to your clients and potential prospects!  Are you listening to people who are writing on your wall, who are talking to you in the common places?  Are you listening to everyone who talks to you or are you more anxious to get your own thoughts and words out.

Here is the beginning of the song that I want to point you to.

Hello? Hello? Hello?

Is there anybody in there?

Just nod if you can hear me.

Is there anyone at home?

Come on now

I hear you're feeling down.

Well I can ease your pain

Get you on your feet again.

Relax.

I'll need some information first.

Just the basic facts.

Can you show me where it hurts?

So here are my tips from the song of Pink Floyd that I believe will help you in your business.

1.  Hello, when was the last time you said Hello to someone.  More importantly was it a passing hello or a friendly hello.  Was it personal or impersonal?   Did you mean it?  Did you hear if they said hello back?  Did you make eye contact?  I believe all these questions say a lot.  Especially when it comes to doing business with people.  It’s about relationships.   Sometimes the simple art of saying hello to someone becomes routine and we miss the fact that the word hello can be the beginning of a relationship or the continuation of a relationship.

2.  Just nod if you can hear me!  Have you ever been in conversation with someone and they just stare at you?  Maybe you get an uh huh, yes, or nod and it instantly brings you into the last conversation with your teenager that you had the other day.  We all have expressions and say things during conversation, we use these expressions to show others we are listening.  Are we really listening?  I want to challenge you to nod like you mean it!  Ask questions so people know you care.  Just nod like you mean it!

3. I hear you’re feeling down!  I hear you!  Maybe it’s something A person said that you need to repeat back so they know you get them.  In the song it’s:  “I hear you're feeling down.”   In business it might be, “I hear you’re slow.” or “I hear you’re struggling.”  Do you hear them?  Maybe it’s, “I hear you had a fantastic week”.   The point is to hear them!  Are you listening?

4.  I'll need some information first, just the basic facts, can you show me where it hurts?   Part of listening is getting the facts so you can share with them and help them if you can.   So are you listening for the facts?  Are you getting the information down?  Are you listening!

My life is really all about helping people and I believe if I follow these tips of listening that I can really know how to help someone.   Share your thoughts below on what are some tips you use for listening.