I think I understand that by listening, you are engaged on what the other person is saying, and by waiting, you are not engaged and are spending time until it is your own turn to talk. However I don’t understand how, in Ms. Leibowitz’s quote, waiting could be considered the opposite of talking instead of listening.
I think I understand that by listening, you are engaged on what the other person is saying, and by waiting, you are not engaged and are spending time until it is your own turn to talk. However I don’t understand how, in Ms. Leibowitz’s quote, waiting could be considered the opposite of talking instead of listening.
Thanks for the comment Curtis. I will admit that I had the same thought about what exactly is the opposite of talking.
In talking you assume that it is part of a conversation. That may be the missing piece. So few people really do listen, myself included at times.
Talking is about delivering, so the opposite should be about receiving. That would imply listening.
Bottom line, if more people really did listen, this quote would no longer be poignant.
John.