A short spoken monologue by Vishen Lakhiani offering a communication trick: focus less on the literal words people say and more on the underlying meaning or intention. The speaker argues that responding to what people truly mean makes others feel seen, valued, and loved and improves communication long-term.
Chapters
But I want to tell you a trick that will make you a better communicator for the rest of your life. Don't let people's words distract you from what they really mean. Yes, you heard me correctly. I said, don't let people's words distract you from what they really mean. It's kind of funny because we've been taught our whole lives, listen. You've got to listen. Listening is important. Listen. Listen to what I'm saying. You didn't listen, but I'm actually asking you, in order to really listen, don't listen so carefully to someone's words. When you ignore someone's words in favor of really listening and then respond not to their words. Okay. But to what they're actually communicating to you, it's very powerful. It's almost as though you're reading their mind. And again, when you really, really listen like this, people feel seen and valued and understood and loved, and that's what everyone in the world wants.