10.30.18
Excuse Me, What did you say?
Can I have a tall coffee, black, no room?
Excuse me- what did you say?, said the barista with orange ear plugs in both ears. I suppressed a smile as I finished the order and refrained from suggesting he remove the ear plugs so he could hear me.
Something that happens more often and really isn’t humorous is that many of us go through our day not hearing what other people are saying. Perhaps we are distracted by a phone screen, computer screen or our mind is busy with other things. Whatever it may be, if we are not fully engaged in a conversation with a co-worker, family member, or friend, the message we are sending is that this conversation is not as important as the text, email, etc., I may be checking.
I am guilty of this and it takes a concerted effort to not pick up the phone or become distracted when communicating. Yet, when the choice is made to give all my attention to the other person, I hear and understand what they are saying. And, I don’t have to ask, “Excuse me, what did you just say?.”
Regards,
Brian
