7 Ways to Improve Your Listening (1-3) - Freative Friday #short

I'm going to give you seven exercises to build your human superpower of listening. Number one Leverage the power of focus. Often when we're in conversation, we've got five other things going on in our minds. So when you're listening, turn your attention to that person or that group and train your brain on the conversation. Focus on the moment and receive. Number two, clear your mind before you receive. If you have to come into the conversation hot off another meeting, pause for a moment or two, clear your mind and be intentional about listening. Number three, don't think ahead. Now this sounds counterintuitive to how you might plan and facilitate a conversation. And of course you should have a conversation plan and a listening plan. But put that at the next mental layer, below your listening layer. And instead of thinking about what you're going to say or ask next before the person is done talking, concentrate on listening, finding the patterns and letting the conversation and listening flow naturally.