September 21, 2023

Why People Stop Listening to Your Opinions

Ever found yourself in a meeting, passionately sharing your game-changing idea only to realize that you’ve lost your audience faster than yesterday’s trending TikTok video? Don’t worry, because today we’re diving into why sometimes people at work stop listening to your opinions, and how to become more like the workplace Yoda—wise, influential, and virtually impossible to ignore.

Why People Stop Listening to Your Opinions

You’re the Office Version of Dr. House—Abrasive

Remember Dr. House? Brilliant, but man, could he be abrasive. No one doubts your smarts, but if you come off too harsh or condescending, people are going to mentally swipe left on whatever you’re saying. Nobody wants to listen to someone who doesn’t know how to package their opinions respectfully. Remember that you can be assertive without crossing over into aggressive.

You’re a Monologue, Not a Dialogue

Ever been stuck in a conversation where you couldn’t get a word in edgewise? Frustrating, isn’t it? If you don’t listen to others’ ideas, why would they reciprocate? It’s like trying to join an Avengers team-up while ignoring Captain America’s battle plan. Just doesn’t work, champ.

You Don’t Get “It” 

Imagine suggesting to a group of Star Wars fans that Jar Jar Binks deserves his own spinoff. 😱 How quickly do you think they’d toss you into the Sarlacc pit? If you don’t appreciate the needs, goals, or interests of your coworkers, your ideas will fall on deaf ears.

You Get Too Competitive

We get it. You want to be the very best, but if you’re constantly trying to one-up everyone like you’re in a never-ending episode of “Survivor,” your colleagues will want to boot you off the island. 

Your Opinions Come with a Side of Drama

Ever watched a soap opera? The drama keeps you hooked, but you wouldn’t want that in your real life, would you? If you communicate your ideas in disruptive, negative, or gossipy ways, people will tune out. They came for “The Office,” not “Game of Thrones.”

How To Speak So Others Listen

Now that we’ve covered the reasons people might stop listening to you, let’s focus on how to become a more influential voice in the room. 

Channel Your Inner Mr. Rogers

It’s all about delivery. Make it a beautiful day in the neighborhood office by expressing your ideas and emotions in a respectful, compassionate manner. Just as Mr. Rogers taught us, kindness makes people more receptive.

Two Ears, One Mouth

There’s a reason we have two ears and one mouth. Listen more than you speak. Hear out your colleagues’ perspectives as if you’re gathering Infinity Stones; each one adds to your power to understand the office universe.

Empathize First

Take the time to understand your coworkers’ challenges and aspirations before you share your own opinions. You’ll not only forge stronger connections but your ideas will be more likely to resonate if you align them with the needs and values of others. 

Embrace Healthy Competition, Avoid the Thunderdome

Friendly competition is one thing, but the moment it turns into a “Mad Max” Thunderdome, all bets are off. Focus on collective goals and cheer on your teammates. You can be competitive without making it “us vs. them.”

Be Drama-Free, Like Bob Ross

Your ideas can be as bold as a Bob Ross mountain landscape, but keep the drama to a minimum. Be as straightforward as possible, ensuring your message is both powerful and peaceful—just like one of Bob’s little trees.

So, in summary, here’s the deal…

Being heard and influential at work doesn’t require a Jedi mind trick. It just requires a genuine appreciation for interpersonal dynamics, a sprinkling of empathy, and a dash of strategic communication.

Adapt these strategies, and you’ll find your colleagues leaning in the next time you speak, hanging onto your every word like a season finale cliffhanger.