"Shut up and listen" - Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary shares the "one human quality" that he would invest in

In addition to possessing extensive knowledge about running a business, Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary places equal importance on the art of listening.

In a November 24 Instagram post, O'Learys shared he would invest in the "ability to listen" as he believed that it was a human quality that would grow in value. He said that most people excel at talking, however, they often overlook the importance of truly listening.

"You know, if I can invest in a human quality that I know would grow in value over time, I'll tell you what it would be. The ability to listen. Most people know how to talk, and they talk too much. They don't listen," he said.

The Shark Tank investor explained that by listening people could acquire even deeper insights, gain valuable information, and they will be able to make better-informed decisions in return. He advocated for people to pause for a while and focus on what people are telling them.

"I would invest in the ability for anybody to shut up and listen. You become far more powerful, you learn a lot more. You have more information that helps you make better decisions in your life. Try it. Shut up and listen," he concluded.

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Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary learned the power of listening from one of his CEO

In an interview with CNBC's Make It, published on January 7, 2022, Kevin O'Leary delved deeper into the importance of listening and how it would help an entrepreneur grow their business.

He shared that if an individual was just starting his career, they should invest in learning the ability to listen. They should listen to people around them, to their boss and their peers as well.

“If you’re just starting off in your career, the No. 1 attribute you should think about is learning how to listen. Listen to the people around you. Listen to your boss. Listen to your peers. Shut up and listen,” O'Leary said.

The Shark Tank investor explained that by speaking less and actively listening to the important people around them, individuals can gain more valuable and efficient information, ultimately helping them advance in their careers.

O'Leary emphasized the importance of being aware of the surroundings. He explained that by listening to others, gaining a deeper understanding of personal goals and actions, and being conscious of established rules, an individual can uncover valuable insights that possess "tremendous power."

“Listening to people and understanding what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and what the rules are gives you tremendous power,” he said.

O'Leary further added that he learned the ability and the importance of listening from one of his CEO. She told him that to achieve success he would need to reverse the “general tendency” of spending two-thirds of their day talking and one-third of their day listening.

“She reversed that ratio. She listened for two thirds of the day and spoke for a third, and what she learned was she had much more information at her fingertips with which to make decisions,” O'Leary added.

The Shark Tank star further advised the new employees to keep a written record of their progress and make sure of the fact that their boss looked good.

He added that remote workers should focus on their performance as they don't have the opportunity to engage in informal interactions with their bosses which could have helped strengthen their professional relationships.

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Shark Tank season 16 episodes air every Friday on ABC.