--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to become a better listener…" description: "\"If you want to become a better listener, however you need to learn to direct that energy and attention positively by concentrating on the person you're..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/john-c-maxwell-113_attention_if-you-want-to-become-a-better-listener_2912967.jpg" --- # If you want to become a better listener, however you need… ![“If you want to become a better listener, however you need to learn to direct that energy and attention positively by concentrating on the person you're with.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/john-c-maxwell-113_attention_if-you-want-to-become-a-better-listener_2912967.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/john-c-maxwell-113_attention_if-you-want-to-become-a-better-listener_2912967.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/john-c-maxwell-113_attention_if-you-want-to-become-a-better-listener_2912967.jpg) > “If you want to become a better listener, however you need to learn to direct that energy and attention positively by concentrating on the person you're with.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective listening requires focused, positive energy on the speaker. **In simple terms:** Listen with focused attention. Key Takeaway Practice attentive listening. Themes leadership communication listening Mood practical motivational Type self‑help leadership When to use this quote - team meetings - coaching sessions Key Concepts psychology of attention emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can you minimize distractions? - What habits improve focus? A Different Perspective Distractions can hinder listening. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) ## Related quotes > [I have a harder time finding somebody. The problem is we were growing professionally during the years most people were concentrating on being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-carpenter/i-have-a-harder-time-finding-somebody-the-problem-is-we-were-growing/) [Karen Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-carpenter/) > [I am a better listener than talker - but that's partly because I believe rows are often caused by saying things you haven't thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-wise/i-am-a-better-listener-than-talker-but-that-s-partly-because-i/) [Greg Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-wise/) > ["Acoustic ecologist" is basically a fancy name for someone who tries to become a better listener. Not just listening to those thoughts, ideas, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hempton/acoustic-ecologist-is-basically-a-fancy-name-for-someone-who-tries-to/) [Gordon Hempton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hempton/) > [I became a better listener than I ever had been as a result of playing Jean Luc Picard because it was one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/i-became-a-better-listener-than-i-ever-had-been-as-a-result-of/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) > [To be a better listener you have to be less selfish and more curious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-better-listener-you-have-to-be-less-selfish-and-more-curious/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sex is ten percent skill and ninety percent listening. Who’s a better listener than you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarina-bowen/sex-is-ten-percent-skill-and-ninety-percent-listening-who-s-a-better/) [Sarina Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarina-bowen/) > [“Assuming less does not make you naive, it makes you a better listener.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-a-o-neal/assuming-less-does-not-make-you-naive-it-makes-you-a-better-listener/) [Terry A O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-a-o-neal/) > [“New Rule: If you're one of the one-in-three married women who say your pet is a better listener than your husband, you talk too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-if-you-re-one-of-the-one-in-three-married-women-who-say-your/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“To talk less and be a better listener is the lifelong quest of a good friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-dippel/to-talk-less-and-be-a-better-listener-is-the-lifelong-quest-of-a-good/) [Judy Dippel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-dippel/) > [I don't look into myself too much. I don't think I'm shy so much as a better listener than I am a speaker. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-don-t-look-into-myself-too-much-i-don-t-think-i-m-shy-so-much-as-a/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [“But the less one thinks of self's opinions, and the better listener one becomes, greater may be the opportunities for being of help or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/but-the-less-one-thinks-of-self-s-opinions-and-the-better-listener/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [It's better for the listener to interpret their own meanings to the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-jones/it-s-better-for-the-listener-to-interpret-their-own-meanings-to-the/) [Kelly Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-jones/) > [Becoming a good listener, you are able to connect with others on more levels and develop stronger, deeper relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/becoming-a-good-listener-you-are-able-to-connect-with-others-on-more/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you are thinking about mistakes during games then you are not concentrating on what is important which is the next shot or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-given/if-you-are-thinking-about-mistakes-during-games-then-you-are-not/) Shay Given > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Vision is a picture of a desired future; a picture of something that I don't possess right now, but it is something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/vision-is-a-picture-of-a-desired-future-a-picture-of-something-that-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you want to make your mother happy, talk to her. If you want to make your father happy, listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-want-to-make-your-mother-happy-talk-to-her-if-you-want-to-make/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Experiences isn't the best teacher - evaluated experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/experiences-isn-t-the-best-teacher-evaluated-experience-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-big-man-is-one-who-makes-us-feel-bigger-when-we-are-with-him/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I thought if I was open and honest, it would help the reader to get open and honest, and they also would realize sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-thought-if-i-was-open-and-honest-it-would-help-the-reader-to-get/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A person who has a dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-person-who-has-a-dream-knows-what-he-is-willing-to-give-up-in-order/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Explore all 1,233 John C. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you want to become a better listener, however you need to learn to direct that energy and attention positively by concentrating on the person you're with.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John C. 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