While celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with family, I came across an article about the National Day of Listening. National Day of Listening is an unofficial holiday celebrated on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. It was launched in 2008 by StoryCorps, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to encourage Americans of all beliefs and backgrounds to record, preserve, and share the stories of their lives. (https://www.awarenessdays.com/us/awareness-days-calendar/national-day-of-listening-2018/)
As I read the article, I began to think about the art of listening and how our listening skills affect every aspect of our communication with other people whether that is family, friends, co-workers, managers, or customers.
Listening is defined by Meriam Webster dictionary as “to hear something with thoughtful attention: give consideration” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listen) Listening should not be confused with hearing, which Meriam Webster defines as “to perceive or become aware of by the ear” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hear)
And while I have gotten a little older and my hearing is not what it used to be, I have come to realize that fact does not affect my ability to listen. Listening requires our time and attention. Listening is the way we understand what those around us need. It helps us build relationships, solve problems, resolve conflicts and improve our accuracy in our dealings with people in all situations.
Active listening is core to Goldleaf Surety’s business model. We focus a lot on relationships and team building with our sureties, our insurance agency partners, and our contractors. And paramount to building those relationships is active listening in order to access the needs and then provide the solutions. Goldleaf Surety goes beyond simply providing the expertise and documentation needed in order to provide the required bond. We form lasting relationships that provide you with support throughout the bonding process. We transform the process into a chance to prepare businesses for bond opportunities now, and again in the future when the business needs to grow.
