Such a brilliant, universal skill to develop. For social and work situations (even tense or combative ones) this will help. Being inquisitively curious and displaying that in great questions and strong listening discipline...well, you will always learn something!
In a previous lifetime training consultants, I would do a simple active-listening exercise:
1. Pair-off the students having them sit facing each other.
2. Round 1: student A starts talking about an activity that "she really loves."
3. "Partner" is to sit completely stone-faced, no expression, no comment, no hands.
4. Keep going for 90 seconds.
5. Debrief: typically how hideously awkward and uncomfortable it felt.
6. Round 2: student be starts talking about something "frighteningly boring."
7. "Partner" (Student A) tasked to use her best active-listening skills -- facial engagement, paraphrasing, etc.
8. Keep going to 90 seconds.
9. Debrief: generally hard to stop them after 90 seconds.
Two of the "best" boring examples over many years were: A) collecting fingernail clippings that had fallen around the bathroom, and B) planning the pattern he would use to mow his lawn.
Such a brilliant, universal skill to develop. For social and work situations (even tense or combative ones) this will help. Being inquisitively curious and displaying that in great questions and strong listening discipline...well, you will always learn something!
In a previous lifetime training consultants, I would do a simple active-listening exercise:
1. Pair-off the students having them sit facing each other.
2. Round 1: student A starts talking about an activity that "she really loves."
3. "Partner" is to sit completely stone-faced, no expression, no comment, no hands.
4. Keep going for 90 seconds.
5. Debrief: typically how hideously awkward and uncomfortable it felt.
6. Round 2: student be starts talking about something "frighteningly boring."
7. "Partner" (Student A) tasked to use her best active-listening skills -- facial engagement, paraphrasing, etc.
8. Keep going to 90 seconds.
9. Debrief: generally hard to stop them after 90 seconds.
Two of the "best" boring examples over many years were: A) collecting fingernail clippings that had fallen around the bathroom, and B) planning the pattern he would use to mow his lawn.
1) A simple rule to remember is two ears, one mouth and following that ratio in conversations.
2) A pivot to make in career maturity is evolving from a 'know it all' to a 'learn it all'.