Now hear this

Do you listen? Or just wait for your turn to talk?

Listening is central to finding good stories.

And good stories can help your organization thrive.

Sometimes compelling pieces are right in front of you -- if you are paying attention.

In my own career, two examples come to mind. One involved a man in his 20s who walked into our newspaper office using a cane, spoke haltingly and became frustrated when we didn’t initially understand what he wanted. Turned out he was an Olympic-level cyclist who suffered a brain injury in a crash while training in Utah, and he was now pushing for child helmet use. His story was powerful.

Another happened after I overheard two of my Boys & Girls Club colleagues discussing a date conflict because “of the wedding.” When I questioned them about it, I learned a longtime member decided to get married in the Club she described as her second home. The wedding story received national attention.

When I was coaching newspaper reporters, I discouraged them from relying on recorded interviews because I felt – and still feel – it promotes lazy listening. So does overreliance on today’s AI note-takers. It is fine to record – the real trick is listening and staying in the moment instead of thinking you have backup.

Be present. Listen. What you hear might surprise you.