Listen

I hear it so often, “I just want to be heard.”
One of the things I remember most distinctly when I headed an organization was someone saying to me “I just wanted to let you know what I am thinking.  What you do with it is up to you. “
I felt my role was to do such things in my job.  I was responsible for letting the boss know, on a monthly basis, the state of play of our operation.  I felt big time my role was to tell it like it was.  Sometimes that meant sharing good news and at other times it was not so good news.  The content was less my concern then stating the facts.  My role I felt was simply to let those who make decisions know how things were so that responsible decisions could be made.  I was not there to say what someone wanted to hear but to say how it was.
I was reminded of this by something I read in yesterday’s James Clear email.  To me this sort of thinking applies to me. “The thing to focus on is the pattern. If you hear something once, don't let it wreck your mindset. There are many ways to view the world and not everyone will agree with your approach.
But if you're hearing something repeatedly, think carefully about whether the feedback is right."
As I have indicated before, everyone’s voice is important but not everyone’s voice need be acted upon.  The important thing to me is to approach matters sensibly.  If I close my ears to everything and insist my way is the only way I will potentially miss out.  By the same token if I follow all I am told I can easily lose sight of my goal.
To me taking things onboard matters.  That does not mean I do everything that anyone says.  It does mean though that I listen.  So often the right way is a combination of ideas.  Ignore and I may miss out.  Do everything and I may miss out.
But one constant always remains.  Listen.