{"id":24146,"date":"2021-02-10T12:03:09","date_gmt":"2021-02-10T18:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/?p=24146"},"modified":"2022-06-09T13:15:22","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T18:15:22","slug":"listening-most-important-habit-to-master","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/","title":{"rendered":"Listening: The Most Important Habit You Need to Master"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated on June 9, 2022<\/p>
\n

There’s so much to learn about the world, people, and ourselves if we only listen. It’s more than simply hearing. It’s about making it a habit to take in the words, actions, and feelings of everyone around you, learn from them, and apply them to your life and business. This article will cover 6 key areas where you should be listening more, with tips on how to do just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

“Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self.” <\/p>– Dean Jackson<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

1. Listen to your clients<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Learning to truly listen to your clients will have a meaningful impact on your business. Listening is an integral part of communication<\/a>, and good communication is the only way to build relationships and close gigs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next time you get a new lead or business opportunity, remember these 3 things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

1. Never assume anything.<\/strong> Making assumptions is the quickest way to derail a relationship with a client. When you go into a conversation assuming you know what the other person feels, wants, or is going to say, they will immediately feel like what they have to say doesn’t matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.<\/strong> Communicate their way.<\/strong> Your approach may need to change based on your client’s preferred communication channel. Regardless of your own preference, learn to meet your client where they are most comfortable. Phone calls, texts, emails, online messaging \u2013 listen how they want you to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Ask questions. <\/strong>In order to listen effectively, you must ask insightful questions. When your responses are engaging, it will make a client feel heard and ensure them you aren’t just looking for your next gig but are genuinely interested in them and their inquiry.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Listen to your competitors<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your competitors are not your enemies. In fact, they can be one of your biggest teachers<\/a> if you just take the time to listen. You might learn something they do that you want to avoid or find an idea that you want to emulate. It’s okay to say “Wow, they do that well!” and apply it yourself. That’s how business has always worked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start getting to know your competition with these 3 steps: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

1. Figure out who they are.<\/strong> Listen to your clients and colleagues, as they are often quick to let you know what’s out there that should be on your radar. And of course, you can research on your own. One great way to find your competition is to try searching how you hope potential clients will find you. See who else comes up. This may also help you identify holes in your marketing. Bonus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. See what their clients are saying. <\/strong>Read reviews across multiple platforms, both positive and negative. Keep an open mind and don’t let your ego get in the way. If your mind is full of “I can do that better!” then you won’t be able to truly hear the helpful things their clients might be saying. Humility is an important part of listening well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Dig into social media. <\/strong>For better or worse, most of us live and breathe on our social platforms. They’ve become a necessity for building businesses and connecting with clients. You can learn a lot by seeing how your competition interacts with their followers. What kind of posts do they share? How do they respond in comments? Social listening<\/a> has become a key tactic in business development.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Listen to experts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Never allow yourself to think you know everything there is to know about anything. Your industry, your craft, even the world. There’s always more to learn. Find people that know more than you in certain areas, or have a different perspective on others. Then open your mind and listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few places to start finding experts to listen to and learn from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Podcasts. <\/strong>This is one of the most popular mediums nowadays for sharing views and having thoughtful discussions. There are many apps<\/a> out there that give you free access to hundreds of podcast channels, so it’s easy to find something that matches your interests. Start a habit of listening on walks or during your commutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Books.<\/strong> Devoting some time to reading full-length books from experts in any industry is the best way to learn and grow both as a person and a business professional. Don’t have time to read? Try audiobooks instead! Amazon<\/a> and Audible<\/a> are great resources for physical, digital, and audiobooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blogs & newsletters.<\/strong> Search the web for industry blogs that you find helpful and engaging. Bookmark them in your browser to check back regularly, or sign up for newsletters to get alerted of new posts. There are also cool sites like Medium<\/a> that allow you to follow a variety of authors and even share your own articles if you fancy yourself a writer.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

“If you’re not listening, you’re not learning.”<\/p>– Lyndon B. Johnson<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Listen to your supporters<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having a certain level of confidence is a necessity in the events and entertainment industry. But no one is confident all the time and many people struggle internally with self-esteem issues. This is where words of affirmation from your loved ones and supporters can have a profound effect on your life. The hard part is learning to not only listen to them but believe them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next time you receive a compliment, practice these 3 things: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

1. Pause and smile. <\/strong>Our impulse is to often deny compliments or explain them away. Practice pausing for a beat to stop yourself from doing that. Then smile and say, “Thank you.” And leave it at that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Accept it.<\/strong> Don’t make excuses or deflect, out loud or internally. Take the compliment for what it is. Even if you don’t feel like it’s true, learn to listen and trust that someone else does believe it and you’ll start to too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> Remember it. <\/strong>Every word of encouragement you receive builds your confidence. Take the time to think about each one and try to understand where it is coming from. You can even write it down as a reminder later.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Listen to your body<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We cannot do anything without the energy and focus our bodies and minds afford us. If you\u2019re tired, sad, or hungry \u2013 these things take a toll on your productivity and ability to thrive. Learn to listen to your body to signal when you need to take a beat and change something. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few ways to become more in tune with your body:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

1. Check in regularly. <\/strong>Don’t let a day go by without stopping for a moment or two to check in with yourself. Take a minute to catalog things like your headspace, your hunger level, or your tiredness. If you have to, schedule it into your day and set reminders to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Make adjustments.<\/strong> Recognize patterns and adjust your daily routines accordingly. Always hungry around 10:30am? Keep a healthy snack nearby or adjust your meal times. Find yourself feeling tired around 2pm? Schedule some downtime midday or change your sleep schedule. Find what works best for you, but don’t just ignore the problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> Get moving. <\/strong>Our bodies are not meant to be sedentary. We have muscles and joints so that we can move. Doing so will also allow you to connect with your body and mind, which will make checking in and adjusting your behavior a lot easier. There’s no right or wrong movement, so choose something that you can enjoy and stick with. Walking, running, yoga, cardio \u2013 whatever your body responds best to.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Listen to yourself<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Trusting your intuition is hard, but can make your life easier and more fulfilling. Not to mention how it can improve your business. In fact, a lot of GigSalad<\/a>‘s early growth was guided by our CEO simply listening to his gut. Self-doubt is a difficult thing to overcome, but learning to truly follow your instincts can be transformative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When faced with a decision, use these 3 steps to listen to your intuition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Quick response. <\/strong>Write down the questions you need to be answered, and then immediately answer them without any thought. Just the first thing that comes to mind. While you can’t always rely solely on gut reactions, they give you a great starting point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.<\/strong> Monitor reactions. <\/strong>Walk through various scenarios and catalog your body’s and mind’s responses. Do you feel nervous? Excited? Is your heart racing or stomach queasy? Listening to your reactions, even when the scenes are imagined, can be very telling of how you should proceed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> Reflect. <\/strong>Think back to other decisions you’ve made in the past, whether they had a positive or negative outcome, and reflect on how you felt about them. Did they feel right? Did they make you happy, scared, worried? Listening to your past feelings can help inform your future ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

“Listen to your inner voice. Trust your intuition. It’s important to have the courage to trust yourself.”<\/p>– Dawn Ostroff<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Listening is a skill we all have but don’t try hard enough to hone and improve. But when you make it a conscious daily habit, you’ll start seeing changes throughout every aspect of your life. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last updated on June 9, 2022 There’s so much to learn about the world, people, and ourselves if we only listen. It’s more than simply hearing. It’s about making it a habit to take in the words, actions, and feelings of everyone around you, learn from them, and apply them to your life and business. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":24218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9],"tags":[10130,1476,1074],"class_list":["post-24146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gig-business","tag-business-skills","tag-communication","tag-gig-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nListening: The Most Important Habit You Need to Master - GigSalad<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn to listen thoughtfully to these 6 things and you'll see more success in your business, relationships, and overall life.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Listening: The Most Important Habit You Need to Master\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn to listen thoughtfully to these 6 things and you'll see more success in your business, relationships, and overall life.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The GigSalad Community\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gigsalad\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/heathereroonan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-02-10T18:03:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-06-09T18:15:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/girl-reflecting-and-listening.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1254\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"836\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Heather Roonan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@GigSalad\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@GigSalad\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Heather Roonan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Heather Roonan\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a4e773300eb6f9212fa2fdb0cc5ba41f\"},\"headline\":\"Listening: The Most Important Habit You Need to Master\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-10T18:03:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-06-09T18:15:22+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1538,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/girl-reflecting-and-listening.jpg?fit=1254%2C836&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"business skills\",\"communication\",\"gig tips\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Gig Business\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\\\/\",\"name\":\"Listening: The Most Important Habit You Need to Master - GigSalad\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/girl-reflecting-and-listening.jpg?fit=1254%2C836&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-10T18:03:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-06-09T18:15:22+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn to listen thoughtfully to these 6 things and you'll see more success in your business, relationships, and overall life.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/girl-reflecting-and-listening.jpg?fit=1254%2C836&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/girl-reflecting-and-listening.jpg?fit=1254%2C836&ssl=1\",\"width\":1254,\"height\":836,\"caption\":\"Portrait of beautiful smiling young woman enjoying yoga, relaxing, feeling alive, breathing fresh air, got freedom from work or relations, calm and dreaming with closed eyes, in green park, copy space\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"The GigSalad Community\",\"description\":\"Inspiration and information from behind the curtain.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"GigSalad\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i2.wp.com\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/04\\\/circle-bl-400.png?fit=400%2C400&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i2.wp.com\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/04\\\/circle-bl-400.png?fit=400%2C400&ssl=1\",\"width\":400,\"height\":400,\"caption\":\"GigSalad\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/gigsalad\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/GigSalad\",\"https:\\\/\\\/instagram.com\\\/teamgigsalad\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/gig-salad\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/gigsalad\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/peacelovegigs\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a4e773300eb6f9212fa2fdb0cc5ba41f\",\"name\":\"Heather Roonan\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e56ca9c78c5f780a5ac21870b871c773ad15ca2a11389f71f17bba4a693b9452?s=96&d=blank&r=pg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e56ca9c78c5f780a5ac21870b871c773ad15ca2a11389f71f17bba4a693b9452?s=96&d=blank&r=pg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e56ca9c78c5f780a5ac21870b871c773ad15ca2a11389f71f17bba4a693b9452?s=96&d=blank&r=pg\",\"caption\":\"Heather Roonan\"},\"description\":\"Heather is the Content Manager and a GigSalad veteran of 15+ years. She loves helping event planners create unforgettable celebrations and talent make a living doing what they love. When not at work, she enjoys reading romance and fantasy books, bingeing TV shows, playing board games, and spending time with friends.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/heathereroonan\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/heatherinbooks\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/heather-roonan\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gigsalad.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/heather\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Listening: The Most Important Habit You Need to Master - GigSalad","description":"Learn to listen thoughtfully to these 6 things and you'll see more success in your business, relationships, and overall life.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Listening: The Most Important Habit You Need to Master","og_description":"Learn to listen thoughtfully to these 6 things and you'll see more success in your business, relationships, and overall life.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/","og_site_name":"The GigSalad Community","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gigsalad","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/heathereroonan","article_published_time":"2021-02-10T18:03:09+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-06-09T18:15:22+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1254,"height":836,"url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/girl-reflecting-and-listening.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Heather Roonan","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@GigSalad","twitter_site":"@GigSalad","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Heather Roonan","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/"},"author":{"name":"Heather Roonan","@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a4e773300eb6f9212fa2fdb0cc5ba41f"},"headline":"Listening: The Most Important Habit You Need to Master","datePublished":"2021-02-10T18:03:09+00:00","dateModified":"2022-06-09T18:15:22+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/"},"wordCount":1538,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/girl-reflecting-and-listening.jpg?fit=1254%2C836&ssl=1","keywords":["business skills","communication","gig tips"],"articleSection":["Gig Business"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/","url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/","name":"Listening: The Most Important Habit You Need to Master - GigSalad","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/girl-reflecting-and-listening.jpg?fit=1254%2C836&ssl=1","datePublished":"2021-02-10T18:03:09+00:00","dateModified":"2022-06-09T18:15:22+00:00","description":"Learn to listen thoughtfully to these 6 things and you'll see more success in your business, relationships, and overall life.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/listening-most-important-habit-to-master\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/girl-reflecting-and-listening.jpg?fit=1254%2C836&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/girl-reflecting-and-listening.jpg?fit=1254%2C836&ssl=1","width":1254,"height":836,"caption":"Portrait of beautiful smiling young woman enjoying yoga, relaxing, feeling alive, breathing fresh air, got freedom from work or relations, calm and dreaming with closed eyes, in green park, copy space"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/","name":"The GigSalad Community","description":"Inspiration and information from behind the curtain.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"GigSalad","url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/circle-bl-400.png?fit=400%2C400&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/circle-bl-400.png?fit=400%2C400&ssl=1","width":400,"height":400,"caption":"GigSalad"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gigsalad","https:\/\/x.com\/GigSalad","https:\/\/instagram.com\/teamgigsalad\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/gig-salad","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/gigsalad\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/peacelovegigs"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a4e773300eb6f9212fa2fdb0cc5ba41f","name":"Heather Roonan","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e56ca9c78c5f780a5ac21870b871c773ad15ca2a11389f71f17bba4a693b9452?s=96&d=blank&r=pg","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e56ca9c78c5f780a5ac21870b871c773ad15ca2a11389f71f17bba4a693b9452?s=96&d=blank&r=pg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e56ca9c78c5f780a5ac21870b871c773ad15ca2a11389f71f17bba4a693b9452?s=96&d=blank&r=pg","caption":"Heather Roonan"},"description":"Heather is the Content Manager and a GigSalad veteran of 15+ years. She loves helping event planners create unforgettable celebrations and talent make a living doing what they love. When not at work, she enjoys reading romance and fantasy books, bingeing TV shows, playing board games, and spending time with friends.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/heathereroonan","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/heatherinbooks\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/heather-roonan\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/author\/heather\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/girl-reflecting-and-listening.jpg?fit=1254%2C836&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4VzDy-6hs","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":21692,"url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/4-tips-for-improving-your-communication\/","url_meta":{"origin":24146,"position":0},"title":"4 Tips for Improving Your Communication","author":"Brian Jenkins","date":"October 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThe single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.\u201d George Bernard Shaw.\u00a0 Communication is a critical aspect of any business. Making sure everyone from client to business to the team are on the same page makes the difference between business growth and shutting things down.\u00a0We\u2026","rel":"","context":"By: Brian Jenkins \u2014 Updated: May 28, 2021","block_context":{"text":"Gig Business","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/category\/gig-business\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"4 Tips to Becoming a Better Communicator","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/iStock-863497498.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/iStock-863497498.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/iStock-863497498.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/iStock-863497498.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/iStock-863497498.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24633,"url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/how-to-talk-to-clients-about-covid-19-protocols\/","url_meta":{"origin":24146,"position":1},"title":"How to Talk to Clients about COVID-19 Protocols","author":"Heather Roonan","date":"September 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Events are back, but precautions are still in place. It\u2019s now common to expect requirements for gathering, and it\u2019s recommended that you talk with your client about those expectations right out of the gate. This comes down to honest communication which includes listening to your client\u2019s needs and voicing your\u2026","rel":"","context":"By: Heather Roonan \u2014 Updated: March 21, 2025","block_context":{"text":"Gig Business","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/category\/gig-business\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Blog-Featured-Images-3.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Blog-Featured-Images-3.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Blog-Featured-Images-3.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Blog-Featured-Images-3.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Blog-Featured-Images-3.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13894,"url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/customize-your-set-list-to-match-the-venue-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":24146,"position":2},"title":"Customize Your Set List to Match the Venue","author":"GigSalad","date":"July 6, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Article author, Heather Lanza, is a professional musician and teacher for TakeLessons.com, an online marketplace that connects students with private instructors all over the country. As a teaching partner with TakeLessons, instructors have access to easy-to-use scheduling, billing, and marketing tools to help grow and manage their business. \u00a0 Whether\u2026","rel":"","context":"By: GigSalad \u2014 Updated: July 5, 2016","block_context":{"text":"Gig Business","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/category\/gig-business\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Detail of two guitar players on stage during the concert.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Bluegrass_Band-e1437426725612.jpg?fit=1000%2C731&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Bluegrass_Band-e1437426725612.jpg?fit=1000%2C731&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Bluegrass_Band-e1437426725612.jpg?fit=1000%2C731&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Bluegrass_Band-e1437426725612.jpg?fit=1000%2C731&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6202,"url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/how-to-deal-with-difficult-event-planners\/","url_meta":{"origin":24146,"position":3},"title":"How to Deal with Difficult Event Planners","author":"Heather Roonan","date":"May 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Maintaining a positive and happy relationship with your clients isn't always easy, especially in the events industry. Planning special, once-in-a-lifetime moments adds extra pressure for both the vendor and the planner which can stir big emotions and create tension. When issues arise, it can turn an amicable client into a\u2026","rel":"","context":"By: Heather Roonan \u2014 Updated: June 7, 2021","block_context":{"text":"Gig Business","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/category\/gig-business\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/iStock-1146488630.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/iStock-1146488630.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/iStock-1146488630.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/iStock-1146488630.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/iStock-1146488630.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23606,"url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/booking-gigs-expectation-vs-reality\/","url_meta":{"origin":24146,"position":4},"title":"Expectation vs. Reality: The Truth About Booking Gigs","author":"Heather Roonan","date":"November 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Breaking into the gig business isn't as easy as it might seem. There are a lot of high and unrealistic expectations that make the process seem frustrating and discouraging. But with a small dose of reality and some helpful tips, you can start booking gigs full-time! Expectation:Just join a gig\u2026","rel":"","context":"By: Heather Roonan \u2014 Updated: September 30, 2024","block_context":{"text":"Gig Business","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/category\/gig-business\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Expectation-vs-Reality-1200x628-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Expectation-vs-Reality-1200x628-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Expectation-vs-Reality-1200x628-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Expectation-vs-Reality-1200x628-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Expectation-vs-Reality-1200x628-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32915,"url":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/best-practices-for-canceling-a-gig-on-gigsalad\/","url_meta":{"origin":24146,"position":5},"title":"Best Practices for Canceling a Gig on GigSalad","author":"Matt Holland","date":"March 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"It's never something you want to happen, but you will likely need to cancel a gig as a performer or event service provider at some point in your career. Our team aims to make the process as smooth as possible for both you and your client! Read on to discover\u2026","rel":"","context":"By: Matt Holland \u2014 Updated: August 11, 2025","block_context":{"text":"Gig Business","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/category\/gig-business\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/iStock-1456870616.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/iStock-1456870616.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/iStock-1456870616.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/iStock-1456870616.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/iStock-1456870616.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24146"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24146\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25793,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24146\/revisions\/25793"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}