In my very first professional acting class I was told to make the other person more important. Simply stated, It's my job to listen and react to my partner under the given circumstances of a script as if for the first time, every time. As a coach, I'm trained to listen; listen to what's going on with my clients, mind, body and soul.
I do this by employing a few different levels of awareness when I'm listening. You can do this too. In business meetings, with your employees, team members, vendors & clients. With your friends, family, significant other and children.
Here's a breakdown of the levels of listening awareness:
First, there's a geocentric type of listening whereby we relate what the other person is saying by thinking & saying what we did when whatever they're talking about "happened to us". This kind of listening keeps the focus on the listener rather than the one who is being listened to. This type of listening has a short reach that only serves to keep the focus on the one's self. This is never a great place to listen from when a person needs to work in teams or partnerships
Third is an environmental type of listening. One listens to the other and incorporates the space around them into the listening process. Examples are, listening for things that are said or not said, drawing awareness to the emphasis on words or phrases, self editing, pauses, emotional reactions, focus of the eyes, interruptions in the conversation. This is a deeper level of listening. It allows us to listen not only with our ears & brains, but our hearts and bodies as well. A wealth of information is accessed when listening from this deep place. This level of awareness also sparks a persons intuition or gut reactions to things.
These levels of listening awareness are always available to us whatever our profession, life circumstance, mood, disposition or objective. I invite you to direct your attention to your listening skills. Use these techniques in your business and your life and see if anything changes as a result. Post a comment, let me know how it went.
Second is an acute & direct form of listening that holds sharp attention to what the other person is saying. Attention is 100% over there; eyes locked, aware of what is being said. Attention is being paid. This a great for one-to-one interpersonal skills, problem solving and short time frame discussions where information needs to be disseminated.
Third is an environmental type of listening. One listens to the other and incorporates the space around them into the listening process. Examples are, listening for things that are said or not said, drawing awareness to the emphasis on words or phrases, self editing, pauses, emotional reactions, focus of the eyes, interruptions in the conversation. This is a deeper level of listening. It allows us to listen not only with our ears & brains, but our hearts and bodies as well. A wealth of information is accessed when listening from this deep place. This level of awareness also sparks a persons intuition or gut reactions to things.
These levels of listening awareness are always available to us whatever our profession, life circumstance, mood, disposition or objective. I invite you to direct your attention to your listening skills. Use these techniques in your business and your life and see if anything changes as a result. Post a comment, let me know how it went.
Robert Dioguardi, CPCC
Visceral Coaching
Certified Empowerment Coach
www.visceralcoaching.com
Visceral Coaching
Certified Empowerment Coach
www.visceralcoaching.com
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