Professional Listeners

How often have any of us wished we had someone who really listened to us? Sure, we have co-workers, friends, family members,and partners with whom we interact on a regular basis. And, yes, we share information with them, discuss our feelings and perspectives. But do we believe any of them genuinely listen to us as well as we would like them to? Sure, they may be nodding when we talk, but are they really hanging on every word coming out of our mouths? Granted, not all of those words may be golden, but never mind that. When we speak we want to be heard just the same. After all, sometimes we actually put thought behind what we say.


According to researchers, it is estimated people spend less than half their time in a listening mode. That means we devote more than half of our time trying to be heard. That reality sure does not bode well for the act of listening; nor does it help support our desire to be heard as well as we want. What are we to do? Is there anything to be done? An answer, I am glad to report, seems to be emerging. As is the case with every generation, ours has created a new job or profession. This one in-particular speaks directly to the need we have to be heard: professional listeners. There are now folks out there who actually hire themselves out to do what many of the people in our lives only pretend to do. 


A quick check on the Internet reveals a growing list of men and women providing the service of listening to us with the promise of not interrupting, checking for any incoming emails, texting others, or blurting out their own comments - all those annoying things the people who care about us do. I saw one person charging $40 per hour for this service. Given the newness of this service, it is hard to say how reasonable that is. Still, there is comfort knowing we now have the ability to sit down with someone who actually will listen to us. I suppose our next challenge will be to begin coming up with stuff worth listening to.