Just Listen

by Mark Goulston

 

Reviewed by Brian Beirl

When I mentioned this book, to my wife, Bevv and to my editor, Bevv Beirl, she recommended that I stop talking about it and read it, and just maybe it would be an interesting book to review. Well, as editors usually are, she was right.

Mark Goulston, besides being a business coach, is a practicing psychiatrist. In Just Listen he has blended the worlds of brain chemistry, psychology and personal experience into a very engaging read. He “puts you on the couch” and shows you, the reader, how you personally process information that you hear and why we react the way we do. Once we understand that, we then can recognize what stage of the conversation we are in with others. That is very valuable information to have as we progress to a reasonable resolution and all parties are confident that they have been heard.

This book is way beyond the two ears/one mouth philosophy. Goulston titled his book Just Listen not Shut up! He prescribes listening with intention, knowing where you are in a conversation at any given moment and contributing your thoughts at the best time. This is the same method he uses in extreme situations such as suicide and hostage crises, and it will be just as effective in a sales call or handling misunderstandings that occur during the ebb and flow of a business day.

Do not miss section III of Just Listen; here you will learn the 12 quick and easy ways to achieve “buy in” and “get through”. Personally I have been using the Power of “Hmmm…” a lot lately and, remarkably, the offices at BABM are running much more smoothly. After you are done reading…Just Listen.

Dr. Brian Beirl enjoys an active general dentistry practice and is also an author, educator, presenter, consultant and business coach. He has published, the bookbinder, a popular business fable regarding the personal challenges of running a business, and the soon to be released, the bookbinder, Janis’ Story, a story of a woman’s struggle to balance her professional and personal life. www.mybookbinder.com BrianBeirlDDS@BBeirl.com