Hear me Hear me
Big ears work better
Listening is seriously one of the hardest activities to excel in. But we can hack it. Common advice is to listen with intent, but it is hard to find where the intent button lives. Patiently waiting for the other person to stop before opening the mouth is very noteworthy but jumping in with a fresh thought is more fun. Especially if you might lose it. Performing satisfactorily as a good listener can improve with practice. Maybe we aren’t putting enough into it though. Previously it seemed like sitting back might look like a good listener. But counterintuitively, leaning in works better. Physically it takes some active movement. And it really demonstrates how twisting something around in a new way can change a habit. It may just be the new closer position of the ears, but I bet it is really the leaning in that makes the difference. Using the body in a new way often results in the speaker recognizing that something is new also. Humans treasure their personal space and have learned how to respect that circle. Pressing forward while listening starts a whole new scenario. As long as the space is respected, the speaker can adjust and start to really feel the possibility of having a more than average ordinary discussion.
I hear you now
Option #1: What does your listening look like?
Option #2: Are you set up for a good talk?
Option #3: How do you want to be heard?
That’s it. After you choose the option that best describes better listening, take a few minutes to describe why you chose that option and what action, if any, may come next.
