Message from Craig

Do I have your attention?

I ask because we are living in a noisy age with many distractions. Losing focus can be easy. Are you still with me?

During the pandemic, many of us relied on our devices and computers to conduct video calls. We grew used to staring at blank screens with no faces visible. There were many times when I was in a video call speaking to people whose cameras were turned off, and I asked myself: “Are they even still in the meeting? Are they listening?” Now that we are in person together more frequently, there is no option to cover your camera or shield yourself from view. Participation involves being fully seen and heard. But we can all be guilty of tuning out and drifting off for a few reasons. Shorter attention spans or hearing a point of view contrary to our own can lead us to stop listening... (I know I can fall victim to the above behaviors, and maybe you can relate.) I am here to tell you that we must practice the art of listening. It is an essential part of good communication, and if not a natural gift of yours, it is something you can learn with practice. 

A influential book published in 1989 by a business professor named Stephen Covey was titled The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It presented principles that drive personal and organizational success, and in it, Covey states, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” I have been thinking about this lately as I have been working closely with our new president, Liz Magill. She is taking in so much information about the university and health system (to say nothing of our worldwide alumni and city dynamics). I am impressed how adept Liz is at active listening. Here is what I mean: She pays very close attention to the speaker while making eye contact, noting what they are saying, asking questions, and summarizing what she is hearing and understanding. If you become conscious of this technique, it is something you can practice often in your daily lives.

Listening is a form of communicating, and we need to communicate with each other more and more. Otherwise, we risk becoming irreparably divided. One way to do this is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. I have learned that no matter if I am having a good day or a bad day, there is always someone having a better day and a worse day.

We are living amidst serious local and global challenges. They are political, social, and economic, and I have faith that we can solve these challenges. All of us work for this incredible institution which contributes to the world through teaching, research, and service. Penn is no doubt successful, but it is not perfect. Perfection is unrealistic, and as Winston Churchill once said, “the enemy of progress.” However, each of us deserves to feel heard and valued, and that can be achieved through the type of listening which builds stronger relationships and encourages compassion. 

Craig