Listening: A Superpower at Our Fingertips
By Carol Shen, Founder of Start Culture ShiftOctober 3, 2023
The skill needed today most to be a successful leader in a global environment is the same skill that we have always found to be at the core of our safest and most meaningful relationships: listening. Which also means it’s a skill that helps us to be better parents and connect with our children. And it’s a skill that’s fundamental to having strong friendships and relationships, the key to being an effective coach, mentor and teacher, the list goes on.
Wait… how does it all boil down to one skill - listening? Because true listening, listening with intent, listening with empathy, is not a one way street. It requires us to put aside our agenda and tune into what the other is saying (or not saying). It’s a skill that has the power to create a sense of safety, a sense of belonging, the power to unite people.
I had the chance to visit the Nobel Peace Prize museum in June 2022. In the museum gift store I found a linen white book with gold lettering titled: "Those Who Listen, Change the World". The subtitle stated, The Little Book on Dialogue from the Nobel Peace Center. As I read the simple and succinct words, I immediately appreciated the wisdom the author of this book was sharing with the world. The Little Book on Dialogue could have enormous impact on those who are willing to embrace its ideas and practice the principles in the book - whether you’re a parent, leader, friend - in other words, it’s relevant to all of us.
Why don't we do this more often? We all "listen" everyday as a human being - how can it be that this one skill that we already do everyday has so much unrealized potential, most of us are not good at it, and is not something that was already embraced? Because while listening is a superpower, it’s much more than a passive skill. To listen well, there are other things we need to do first.
Listening requires us to put our ego aside. Listening requires us to put our agenda aside. Listening requires us to focus on others.
When we do so…
Listening empowers us with the ability to change our behaviors for the better. Listening empowers us to connect and communicate more effectively with others. Listening empowers us with having more influence in the world.