Clear Listening

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Clear Listening

• February 2006

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Types of listening
Attention focused on our own inner dialogue and
self interest.
Distracted Listening
Attention focused on analyzing, assessing,
judging what we are hearing.
Active Listening
Open, clear and curious about learning and
absorbing everything we can about what we are
hearing.
Clear Listening
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Generating Insights
Insights
Clear Listening
Presence
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Clear Listening Generic vs. Specific
Generic Exploration
Open
Loaded
Specific Exploration
Descriptive
Judgmental
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Clear Questioning Descriptive vs. Judgmental
Descriptive
Judgmental
Descriptive vs. Judgmental Focus questions on
what the person did rather than pose the question
within a judgment of who he/she is
DESCRIPTIVE What was going through your mind
when you read the e-mail? What do you
typically do following meetings? What were the
outcomes of your actions during the presentation?
JUDGMENTAL Why did you misinterpret what he
meant in that e-mail? Why dont you follow up
more quickly with folks following
meetings? Did you notice how your actions
adversely impacted the audience during the
presentation?
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Clear Questioning Open vs. Loaded
Open
Loaded
Open vs. Loaded Ask questions in a more general
manner rather than specific questions that force
people into one or more alternatives
OPEN What are your assumptions about change
here? What are your feelings about the change
effort? What types of things do you do when
confronted with change?
LOADED Why is your thinking so negative about
change here? Why do you feel so angry and
resigned about the change effort? Why dont you
take more action when confronted with change?
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Silence
Silence is essential to bring about coherence and
wholeness. - David Bohm -

• Pure attention in our listening
• has no content
• is like a laser which transforms the mind into
  the shape and quality of whatever is being
  illuminated
• Deep inner reflection
• What to do during silence
• Allow the silence and pay attention to what is
  coming through
• Ask yourself, What assumptions am I making about
  this?
• Ask yourself, What filters/mental models am I
  currently using to see this?