Today's TQ

Daily Lessons in Intentional Excellence
Thursday, March 26, 2026

Do You Listen, Or Just Wait Your Turn To Speak?

Effective conversations require you to truly listen to what the other person is saying. There's a difference between listening and simply waiting your turn to speak. Experience that difference.

Listening is a skill that can be improved. Practice. Practice. Practice!

Today's TQ Challenge: Speak Clearly -- Listen Carefully -- Confirm Messages.

Choose to be ARTICULATE! How do you know when you're really listening and when you're not?
Choose to be EMPATHETIC! Did you miss something someone said today, because you weren't paying attention?
Choose to be ATTENTIVE! How can you actively demonstrate today that you hear what's being said?

The exchange of ideas from one person to another has never been an exact science. You may never understand the other person completely. Neither can you automatically expect others to understand you, and the full background behind the ideas you are trying to communicate. Don't presume that you know what the other person is thinking. Stop the mutual mystification and get it right the first time. Assume you don't know. Ask. Listen. Clarify, Reach Mutual agreement.

"Executive ability is deciding quickly and getting somebody else to do the work." ~ John G. Pollard

Think about it. How well and how often do you actually DO Synergize Factor 7J?

"I communicate clearly with others, and consistently reach mutual understanding."

A high commitment (7J rated 8 or better) suggests you communicate clearly and always clarify what others want from you. It's partially a personality trait and it's partially the skill you apply to get things right. You gain greater insight each time you speak with others. You're committed to not only hearing what others have to say, but more importantly, understanding them. When you offer ideas to others, you double-check to make sure they truly understood what you think you said -- and that what they think is actually what you mean!

On the other hand...

A lack of commitment suggests you are often mistaken about what others are saying -- simply because you fail to communicate your thoughts clearly. Many of your relationships are filled with frustration and confusion. Misunderstanding results from failing to confirm and clarify incoming and outgoing messages. This results in bad feelings, mistakes and time lost. You are absolutely certain no one speaks "Plain English" any more -- and what people hear, is not even close to what you say!

What happens when you CHOOSE to do Factor 7J a bit more frequently?

Your skill at listening attentively, and speaking clearly, helps you reach a mutual understanding for how you can help each other. You accumulate performance positives like "Articulate, Exacting and Observant" -- immediately moving you towards the results you expect.

What happens when you FAIL to consistently do Factor 7J?

You frequently make critical mistakes, because you have no idea what the other person is actually thinking. Negatives like "Confusing, Imprecise and Misunderstood" start to take their toll on your performance -- quickly moving you away from the success you want.

Now Ask Yourself This...
Is Factor 7J Causing You Problems?

If you believe this factor is a key performance obstacle -- and that it's preventing you from realizing your personal dreams and goals -- then you need to improve it.

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