I love this. I hear it all the time when people talk about how their job interviews went. I can relate from personal experience.

Every day this year, I’m sharing one actionable way to get more connected in real life. Day 37: If you want to genuinely connect with someone, then you need to use active listening in your conversations. Here’s the easiest way to practice active listening: 👉🏻 Instead of responding right away, pick one specific thing they just said and respond to that. Regular listening: “Yeah, that sucks. I get it.” Active listening: “Wait, when you said it feels pointless, what made it feel that way?” BREAKING IT DOWN IN PRACTICE: 1. Listen fully for any problem, emotion.. the substance of what they're saying. 2. Repeat that part in your own words. 3. Ask a follow-up question about that exact thing.

When I shared my recent post about why some leaders struggle with active listening, I realized I didn’t talk about the most important part — how to actually fix it. so here it goes--

An effective tool for de-escalating difficult conversations is to use Active Listening. This means actually listening to what the other side is saying with the intent of understanding their position, and providing feedback through questions or repeated back what you've heard, to ensure the other party knows you are listening. It sounds easy, but when things get heated or stressful it can be difficult to remember this strategy. Practice makes perfect. This clip is a snippet from a training session I conducted where I talk about the importance of active listening.

Active listening is about more than just hearing; it's about truly understanding. The key is simple: listen more than you speak. By prioritizing listening, individuals gain a deeper understanding of others' needs and perspectives. This builds stronger relationships and a better sense of where each person fits in. The most valuable insights often come when you're not the one talking. #ActiveListening #CommunicationSkills #Relationships #Empathy

No one has ever regretted improving their listening skills. Think about that for a moment. We regret things we said. Words we wish we could take back. Reactions that came too fast. But listening? No one lies awake thinking, "I really wish I hadn't paid so much attention to that person." Listening is one of the rarest gifts we can offer. Most people are waiting to talk. Few are truly trying to understand. When you listen fully, something shifts. The other person feels seen. Trust deepens. Conversations change. And here's the quiet benefit no one mentions. When you listen more, you learn more. You catch what others miss. You respond instead of react. Listening looks passive. It's actually one of the most powerful things you can do. #waterthebamboo

Active listening helped many people have a higher willingness to share their concerns. There’s a balancing act of not wanting to hear every concern just for the sake of it. However, there’s a lot to be said around making sure that you never make anyone feel like their voice isn’t being heard. The core of listening and reacting to either realities or misperceptions in meetings was a critical success factor for Sal and her company. #Listening #CriticalSuccess Listen and/or read show notes here: https://lnkd.in/er6VxDiJ

Active listening doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing skill. Many people get discouraged by the perceived difficulty of truly listening. The key is choosing your moments strategically. Recognizing when someone needs to be heard, like a daughter needing help, or when connecting with someone who holds a different opinion, are opportunities to practice. It's about picking moments for focused conversation, like over coffee, where you can concentrate, listen, and reap the benefits of genuine connection. Full episode with Ross Judd; https://lnkd.in/gbKxWtdm #ChocolateAndCoffeeBreak #LetLoveBeTheLoudestVoice #Compassion #HumanConnection #ActiveListening #CommunicationSkills #LeadershipDevelopment #Empathy #Relationships

Listening is a skill that needs to be worked on more. Learn to listen properly. Listening intently is truly one of the easiest ways to figure out what someone needs and how you can help. If you listen to listen instead of listening to respond, I promise you, you'll immediately see a different in relationships and outcomes. There may be more pauses, more silence, more "awkward down time." However, it's never as long as you think it is. The art of conversation lies in listening. #listen #intent #helpothers #missnothing #focus #mgmcoaching

Introverts possess a powerful, often underestimated advantage: true active listening. This isn't just waiting for your turn to speak; it's a deep absorption of verbal and non-verbal cues, understanding the unsaid alongside the said. This natural inclination to decode conversations makes introverts effective social scientists, building trust and psychological safety by making others feel genuinely heard and valued. When people feel truly understood, influence grows. This strategic power of observation is key to fostering stronger connections and deeper understanding within teams. Listen/Watch the full episode here - https://lnkd.in/eTvSew5f