In my previous post on the topic of listening, I shared some thoughts on what it can look, sound and feel like when better listening skills could be useful. In the next post of this series on listening, I’m sharing some of the resources I’ve found handy and explained when and why they’ve helped me.
Getting the basics right...
I’ve found that improving our listening can be a game changer and this is a skill that can be continuously honed and improved. Relationships can improve, thinking gets clearer and better and there’s greater opportunity for innovation when those great ideas get shared.
The WHY of the importance of listening helps hugely in understanding where it fits in our overall communications toolkit. Plus, having exercises that help us flex these muscles, to pay attention and listen better are hugely useful.
I’ve benefited from and recommended these useful tools, especially handy for those who are just starting out on the journey of enhancing their listening skills:
This 20-minute podcast is packed with insightful stats and perspectives into the role of listening (and it’ll test your listening skills at the same time!) How to become a better listener – Nasos Papadopoulos (Metalearn podcast)
This short TedTalk from Julian Treasure is full of examples of how listening and sound work. He explains why he thinks we’re losing our listening and why that is a problem for us all. He also shares five short, practical exercises to build conscious listening for greater understanding.
To get a rounded view of how we can improve our conversations, especially for those who are new to the topic, this book is an easy and accessible read - We need to talk – how to have conversations that matter – Celeste Headlee. Headlee lays out some steps that anyone can quickly put into action, including, thinking about multitasking and checking your bias in conversations.
Listening to improve thinking for ourselves and our teams
I came across Nancy Kline a few years ago - her perspective is that improving our listening skills will improve thinking – especially for the person we are listening to. This is something that’s not often highlighted as much as I think it should be. To really listen and trying not to interrupt can be a game changer in helping someone else improve their thinking.
I recently reviewed Nancy’s latest book, ‘The Promise that Changes Everything – I won’t interrupt you’ in the November 2020 issue of the Twist Change for the Better newsletter.
Since I read her latest book, I’ve been working hard to both not interrupt others but also myself, which we all do during the day, repeatedly disrupting our own thinking. This definitely takes practice and, in the same way that Julian Treasure outlined, being more conscious can really build greater understanding.
Listening better when we are working remotely
There has been a lot of information shared throughout 2020 about listening when we’ve moved to remote working.
From my own experience, I’ve found that it can be tricky to pick up many of the non-verbal signs we rely on when we’re talking and listening in person. However, I’ve also found that it’s made me much more focused on attentively listening to what people are saying or equally, not saying. Plus, I’ve been practising looking at people through the camera rather than the screen itself – not easy.
Like pretty much everyone I’ve spoken to about this, I’m of course missing real eye contact through a screen, but it’s definitely led to a different and more focused type of listening.
If you need more insights and really practical guidance on navigating virtual listening – and potentially some aspects you may not have considered, try this article. - How to do a better job of listening when you’re remote - Judith Humphrey
I also feature content on listening regularly in my newsletter ‘Change for the Better’. If you’re not already on the list to receive updates from me, sign up here.
These are my favourites, but I know there are loads of resources out there. I’d love to hear anything you’ve found helpful – please share and I’ll update this post with them so others can learn too!
In my third and final post on this subject, I’ll be sharing my five top tips to consider if you want to improve your listening skills either with friends or colleagues in your organisation.