Shhhhh!

When I first began my career, I was a firm believer that talking equaled success. The more I could talk, the more successful I would be in all my pursuits- whether it be professionally or personally.

By talking, I signified that I had something to prove and wasn’t afraid to show it through a barrage of name dropping, jargon-infused statements I thought were sure to persuade.

As with many phases, this one fortunately passed quickly and gave way to a less aggressive and more becoming approach to conversing. One that stems from a confidence in knowing that I’m an expert and I’m more concerned with using that knowledge to provide you with a solution than boosting my own ego.

As marketers, listening is an invaluable skill, whether it’s to our clients or customers. Often the biggest issues a client faces can be discovered by reading between the lines (I tried to find a good hearing-related equivalent of this; however was drawing a blank, but you know what I mean!) Sure, there’s an odd creative idea that stems from nowhere, but without a foundation of need, even the best ideas can become useless.

I know this sounds like a fundamental life principal that should go without saying, however I’ve found through my own interactions and observations that taking the time to truly listen to someone is what will foster a deep and lasting relationship. Sometimes it even means tabling your ego, but in the end your work will speak for itself.