the art of observation and listening

“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”

–          Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh was a pretty smart bear for a bear with only fluff in his head.

Listening is an underrated skill.

Mostly because nowadays it seems we teach our younger generation to speak up when they have an opinion and that “everyone has good ideas so don’t hesitate to speak up.”

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm … what happened to speak when spoken to?

Or “if you don’t have something good to say don’t say anything at all”?

Or “think before you speak”?

Of course (because I love contradictions) I am a huge proponent of patient quickness.

I have used this term a number of times when debating with people about “retail speed” or the “speed of retail.” Retail business isn’t about just doing things fast. It’s about moving quickly smartly. It doesn’t mean moving quickly all the time. Being great in retail business is like being a great running back.

Patient. Patient. See opening. Quick to the opening.

That is patient quickness.

You can be quick and still not be moving.

And observation and listening is exactly the same thing.

Patient quickness.

Understanding the value of doing nothing with the intent to do something when it matters (versus doing lots of somethings of which a small percentage really matter).

Of course this gives me an excuse to mention border collies. Probably the epitome of patient quickness. Masters of stillness. Masters of quickness. Masters of unwasted movement.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm …. good business lessons one might suggest.

And people would be well served to remind themselves of this.

Particularly in the business environment these days.

Along those lines (of saying things that matter).

When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.
— Winnie the Pooh

Whew. Smart bear.

Sometimes that ‘thing’ in your head is less of a thing when spoken.

And that is why pooh was a bear of little words.

And while I would love to write something here about young people learning to be more careful when they open their mouths in business I find to my dismay … I cannot.

Why?

Well. These days it seems senior people are as much at fault as younger less experienced. And probably even more so because there should be higher expectations tied to their words.

The whole idea of “thinking out loud” or “just throwing an idea out there” seems to have given senior people permission to not think. Or let others do the thinking for them.

This is lazy thinking.

Using “collaboration” as an excuse for speaking poorly thought out thoughts is unforgiveable to a senior manager.

They, in particular, should be attempting that their ‘things’ are more ‘thingish’ when it gets out in the open. In business we should never confuse quantity with quality. Even when it comes to sharing ideas and meetings and “ideation sessions” (which are rarely idea generators but more a mosh pit of egos).

Now. Most senior people wouldn’t look to Pooh for advice.

They may suggest “that’s not my thing.”

Well.

Those who speak should beware.

Thingish things are more valuable to everyone then non-thingish things.

Pooh was an expert on “patient quickness.”

He made moving slowly and thoughtfully but completing shit an art.

And all because he didn’t waste words.

That is the lesson here.

Not bad for someone with just fluff for brains (Pooh, not me).