Summary

Coaching highlights the power of listening to enhance conversations and interactions both personally and professionally. Active listening can lead to a productive state of flow for clients, improve workplace dynamics, and reduce speaker stress. To listen effectively, avoid distractions, withhold judgment, and ask open-ended questions to allow conversations to unfold naturally. Research supports the multitude of benefits this practice offers, with actionable strategies including curiosity, paraphrasing, and a genuinely open mindset.

Can you remember the last time someone really listened to you? One of my favourite things about coaching is to listen and see where the conversation is going. Without driving that direction myself. Just to see what might come up for my clients.

We seem to have forgotten how to listen to each other. We’d have better conversations, richer interactions, whether in our personal lives or at work, if we really listened. And that means not thinking you know what’s good for the other person.

Just being open and curious.

Being okay with learning new points of view and hearing opinions that are different from ours.

What fascinates me is how often my clients are in a state of flow when they can speak freely. They are always surprised when I say time is up.

Active listening has many benefits and there is a lot of research to support this. Below is a link to a research paper that looks at how listening improves work (results, leadership, relationships, job knowledge). In order to fully listen, a good understanding or experience of presence can be really helpful.

Moreover goood listening leads to lower stress levels in the person speaking… what’s not to like?

What’s the best thing you can do today, at home or at work?

The next time you have a conversation, listen fully – don’t interrupt, don’t give advice, just let the conversation go where it wants to go. You might be surprised how it can unfold.

Link to research:

https://sites.insead.edu/facultyresearch/research/file.cfm?fid=69751&vid=341

Key questions to consider:

1. How can I improve my listening skills? Start with a conscious decision that the conversation is not about you, but the other person. Try staying open and curious. No judgment. Resist the urge to give advice or to say what’s on your mind. Keep the outcome open and instead of answering anything, rather ask open questions to the other person. Make sure you’re not distracted.
2. What specific strategies can I employ to become a better listener? Get used to asking open ended questions (those that cannot be answered with a yes or a no). Also practice paraphrasing, which is to repeat in your own words what you have heard.
3. Can you provide examples of how active listening has positively impacted individuals or organisations? For instance, in the workplace, effective listening can lead to improved team dynamics, enhanced problem-solving abilities, and increased employee engagement. In personal relationships, it fosters deeper connections, greater empathy, and mutual respect.

More about me on my about page.