Become a good listener

Pre-class assignment/topic to write

• What do you think are some good practice to show that you’re listening to someone?

• Think about a time when you feel frustrated talking to someone. What are some of the behaviors that that person did that trigger you? If you were to be that person in the same situation, what would you do differently?

Articles (optional)

• The listening bias

• Types of listening skills

Conversation starters

• Use the assignments as the conversation starters.

• Share about a story or a situation at work that is related to listening skills. Make sure you tie it back to the topic

Some tips to share with mentees

-- Active listening: requires more than simply hearing. It includes anticipating how a speaker thinks and feels.

-- components of active listening:

• paying attention: to nonverbal behavior. remove distractions. Maintain your attention via body language (lean in, nod when appropriate, express your agreements)

• Holding judgment: keep a learner mindset. listen with an open mind. do not premeditate. Stay open to the possibility of finding common ground and mutually beneficial solutions.

• reflecting - reflect the ideas and emotions of others.

  • It sounds to me like you think we should change the color of this poster.

  • So, you’re not happy with the result of the performance review this quarter.

  • Is it fair to say that you think our approach to this matter too complicated?

  • Let me make sure I understand your view. Are you saying that we can understand the costs better by…?

• Clarifying - making sure you have a clear understanding of what others mean.

  • What are your thoughts on…

  • Could you repeat that?

  • I’m not sure I understand…

  • Could you explain how…

  • What might be your role in…?

• Summarizing: restate major themes so that you can make sense of the big issues from the perspective of the other person