Recent updates 🗞️
🇺🇸 Trump becomes 47th President of the United States of America
🏦 Trump appoints Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to DOGE
📈 S&P 500 closed above 6,000 for the first time
🎓 Learning New Product Management and working on capstone project
🎥 Watching “The Bear” S2
📚 Reading “The Speed of Trust”
The Art of Listening: Lessons from a Techie’s MBA Journey
As I sit down to write this month’s blog post, I can’t help but reflect on one of the most transformative skills I’ve been cultivating during my part-time MBA journey: the discipline of listening. It’s funny how something so seemingly simple can be so profound, especially in the world of business and technology where we’re often more focused on speaking, presenting, and proving our worth.
Recently, I came across some incredible insights from legendary music producer Rick Rubin and management guru Peter Drucker that completely reshaped my understanding of listening. Drucker’s bold statement that listening isn’t just a skill, but a discipline, hit me like a ton of bricks. “All you have to do is keep your mouth shut,” he says – easier said than done, right?
My tech background trained me to solve problems quickly, to jump in with solutions before fully understanding the context. But as I’ve progressed through my MBA program, I’ve realized that true leadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating space for understanding.
Listening Beyond the Surface
There’s something magical that happens when you truly listen. It’s not just about hearing words – it’s about receiving the entire communication. I’m reminded of how musicians experience sound – not just through their ears, but through their entire being. Just like how a musician feels the vibrations of music, a great leader feels the nuanced messages beneath the words.
Listening Beyond the Surface
In my professional journey, I’ve discovered that listening is a superpower. When I stop preparing my response and instead focus entirely on understanding, something remarkable happens. People open up. They share more deeply. They feel heard in a way that goes beyond typical workplace interactions.
The Empathy Advantage
Stephen Covey’s principle of “seek first to understand, then to be understood” has become my north star. Through my MBA, I’ve learned that empathetic listening isn’t just a soft skill – it’s a strategic advantage. In my strategy courses, I’ve seen how truly understanding stakeholders can transform business approaches. Think about it – how many missed opportunities exist because we’re too busy crafting our next statement instead of genuinely receiving what’s being communicated? In marketing, in finance, in every aspect of business, the ability to listen can be the difference between success and mediocrity.
A Personal Transformation
My MBA journey has been about more than just learning business principles. It’s been about personal growth. Listening has taught me patience, humility, and the incredible power of being present. It’s a practice, not a destination – something I work on every single day. To my fellow professionals, especially those in tech and business: challenge yourself to listen differently. Not to respond, not to judge, but to understand. Close your metaphorical eyes, feel the vibrations of communication, and watch how your world expands. Listening isn’t just a skill. It’s an art form. And like any art, it requires practice, patience, and an open heart.
Further reading
Cheers 🥂