Being Heard.
Ignoring the bit about foreign policy and hunting down terrorist notice that the word “listen” was used about once every 3 minutes in this interview. This is a little bit of public perception at work here. Empathic listening. The new administration has to very carefully set its tone for dealing with the leaders of the middle east, because this will determine how the middle east, will deal with them. Technically Obama’s policy is not very different from the previous administrations. Both sides will propose their plans, America will mediate. Yet, the entire arab world is hanging on to every word the 44th president is and will be saying. In fact the sound bite, or the only thing people are going to remember from this interview, and this will untimately what they will remember about him will be ”Start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating”.
Listen.
Empathic listening, we listen to demonstrate we care. Sometimes, the solution is not to provide one, but show that you are prepared to listen to one.. Consider the amount of demonisation that America has been recieving over the last few years especially since the “Long War” began. Alot of work has to go into changing what people think, because if not they aren’t going to listen, who is going to communicate ?
Leaders Listen, Followers Wait Their Turn To Speak.
