Sigma Game: Your Emotions, Depression and Inner Mental World are NOT Tangible "Real" Obstacles To Success

I remember reading an article on "managing listening obstacles" and "being an active listener" and found that many challenges to success in our personal and business lives are because of intrinsic and extrinsic distractions.

 

Intrinsic distractions are mental or physical bodily distractions like depression, bad mood, stress, excessive worrying, fatigue, groggy mind, headaches, sleep-deprivation, daydreaming or anything you could say personally and directly affect your person.

 

 

Extrinsic distractions have to do with the external, "outside" distractions, like noises, people distracting you, or anyone or anything in the environment that causes you distraction.

 

 

In order to be successful in his goals, Sigma needs to practice disciplined self-control and self-initiation daily to get things done.

 

When talking to people, Sigmas (with the natural introverted advantage of being "good listeners") should master the art of active listening in the social game.

 

Because many Sigmas are often the silent types than the "talking types" (aka "Alphas"), he may do most of the listening of the conversation than the talking. That's why it's imperative Sigmas become adept active listeners to find out the useful information volunteered by the speaker that may be valuable resources for projects.

 

To be an effective active listener Sigma should:

 

 

1. Have a Purpose: As Sigma listens he should think to himself what information is he gaining from the speaker transaction and if he could "produce" something out of the conversation for himself and/or the speaker and all those involved.
2. Ask Questions: Usually "follow-up" questions to the speech of the speaker that may be relevant to the information you hope to receive. Asking detailed and specific questions, appropriately and discreetly show genuine interest to the speaker that you "actually care" what he/she/they are saying and therefore a good, meaningful conversation.
3. Mental Notes: A Sigma should recognize what was not said in the conversation that may be useful to know and make not of it for later. Either keeping it in memory or writing a brief note on a piece of paper. Use the  5 Q's for reference: Who, what, when, where, why, how?
4. Active Analysis: Listen to the tone of voice, what's being said, and any "main motive" or "vibe" you get from the mood of the speaker's voice (happy, sad, worried, in a rush, stressed, annoyed, interrupted, etc.) and adapt your listening accordingly so you can deduce in your mind at the present as the speaker speaks what is really being said: is it useful personal/social/professional/business/spiritual information that can be used, a small chat or just "talking-to-talk-because-I-have-nothing-else-to-do" kind of talking.