Skill #3
Breathe, be present and observe
Learning to listen, be curious and have genuine interest in others
Let's head to the beach...
Imagine you are sitting around a camp fire on a beach on a starry night, what do you notice, what do you hear, what do you smell, what do you see, what does the sand feel like on your fingers and toes?
When we are curious, we uncover many more possibilities.
"every good conversation starts with good listening"
Taking the time to truly listen not only builds trust, but helps you gain perspective
Imagine if the person you are having a conversation with can tell that you are really listening to understand and appreciate their point of view. How would they feel? I wonder whether others would be more inclined to talk, if you took a step back to listen more, allowing you to understand more?
Think of that campfire on a beach on a starry night with a good friend. You are enjoying the crackling of the fire, the warmth from the flames, the sand between your toes, the taste of toasted marshmallows…. Your conversation is easy and you feel completely there with the other person – no distractions. How does it feel? Was it easy to listen well, or did you have to try to show that you were listening well?
Try this....
Before you start (or to calm down) try this simple breathing exercise.
1. Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 2 seconds then out for 6 seconds. Do this for around 10 x to calm your heart rate and your ease your mind.
2. Then find someone and ask them about a problem they are experiencing.
3. Try to avoid interrupting them. The rules of this exercise are that you can only nod if you agree and the only noise you can make is hmmm.
Take the test...
Do you want to understand your current level of skill?
Why not take the Courageous 8 Assessment by clicking the image below....
