Sound is movement. Our ears transform sound and movement vibrations received into neural impulses to send to the brain. Our ears, not only let us hear, they:

1. Control balance

2. Help coordinate body movement

3. Permit language

4. Allow us to speak eloquently and

5. Sing in tune.

When our head and body move, the labyrinth of the inner ear moves with them with the vestibular fluid following at a different pace. The difference in speed of the movement of body and the fluid stimulates the sensory cells resulting in neural impulses sent to the vestibular nerve which carries the message to the brain. Vestibular sensations record body positions and movements permitting their control. The energy we receive from body movement is vestibular energy.

Sound as Nourishment

The sounds and movements we experience are food for our nervous systems, providing almost 90% of our sensory energy needs. Listening requires the ability and the desire to use our ears. We tune in and tune out at will - we choose to actively listen. Listening takes heed of the Self. It energizes us and brings about harmony within us and in our relationship with others and our world.

The practice of listening to your own inner voice or listening to another can have the same powerful healing effect. Listening actively helps us understand our emotions and learn to acknowledge and recognize the feelings of others.

Active listening helps us stay centered and grounded, present in the here and now, energized and ready to act. Listening affirms and validates that which has been heard, and as such it is the cornerstone to developing awareness, emotional intelligence and enhanced coping skills.

Listening How-To

To listen fully means to pay close attention to what is being said beneath the words. You listen not only to the ‘music,’ but to the essence of the person speaking. You listen not only for what someone knows, but for what he or she is. Ears operate at the speed of sound, which is far slower than the speed of light the eyes take in. Generative listening is the art of developing deeper silences in yourself, so you can slow our mind’s hearing to your ears’ natural speed, and hear beneath the words to their meaning. Peter Senge

Active listening is fundamental to resonant, empathetic leaders and shows the listener that she who listens actively cares. If, when listening, you pay attention to how it feels to listen; and when talking, you pay attention to how it feels to be listened to.

Listening skills can be learned, practiced, and mastered. In the process, we understand and accept ourselves and our relationships with others, we also rediscover that effective communication creates true understanding. Effective listening is an important skill in that process.

Tips and Techniques
that Develop Active Listening Skills

A relaxed state is a pre-requisite for active listening.

Mindful Breathing - an effective way to prepare for active listening

1. When you agree to listen, stop everything and tune in.

2. Check into your breathing. Relax your lower jaw and your tongue (it won’t be needed). Let it float. Now shift your attention to your breathing pattern.

3. Breathe naturally, paying special attention to the feeling created by the movement of the inhalation – air coming in through your nostrils, the movement of your lower abdomen and then your chest as these respond, and then watch the breath as it’s gently exhaled through relaxed lips. Note the slight pause that lingers hanging between the exhalation and the next inhalation. Let your mind witness this recurring process, while you pay attention to your feeling state you witness the breath creating within you.

4. Stay focused on watching the breath, til you find yourself relaxed, your mind empty and you centered in the present moment from the place of silence deep within you.

5. You are now ready to actively listen.

Active Listening is a practice of daily personal KAIZEN

Listening

1. Pay full attention and receive the speaker with all your senses. Be present.

2. Allow the speaker to express themselves – completely. Attend to use of language, intonation, rhythm, pauses, sighs, blurts, breathing patterns, body and facial language and other nonverbal clues. Consider whether the words spoken are in sync with your felt, visceral response and the non-verbal cues you’ve perceived.

3. Be non judgmental. Acknowledge the speaker using empathetic conversational and physical cues (nodding, occasional eye contact) to affirm that you are listening, understanding and encouraging the speaker by using sounds like umhm, ahah etc.

4. When the speaker has finished, wait. Be patient and use silence effectively. Silence can be uncomfortable, especially for the speaker. The pause between their speech and your response provides a moment of reflection – a handshake of sorts (like the pause between the exhalation and inhalation).

5. Restate or paraphrase simply what you’ve perceived so as to let the speaker know what you understand and to learn whether your interpretations and perceptions are accurate.

6. Appreciative enquiry can help the speaker relax and be open to provide additional information.

7. Give feedback. Reflect feelings, experiences, or content heard or perceived. Show warmth. Acknowledge the speaker’s insights and contributions; concerns and feelings.

8. Hold the space and engage the speaker in dialogue on the issues of their concern. Let them do the talking. You do the feeling and listening. Give the speaker time to think as well as to talk.

9. Reflect back to them what you’ve heard, experienced and perceived - mirroring what you’ve experienced you provide them with the rare occasion for self understanding and awareness.

10. Synthesize and summarize what you’ve heard and perceived and clarify the focus

11. Hold the space. Stay alert and engaged. Active listening requires energy and attention.

Active Listening is a coaching core competency

How effectively can you listen if you lose your hearing? Statistics show that hearing loss is a problem that affects at least 10% of Canada’s population and is the third most common chronic disability in Canada.

Environmental and occupational exposures are the most common cause of noise-induced hearing loss.

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Active listening is learned behaviour. A competency required for sustainable success and central to all our coaching programs.