What’s more exhausting: not being heard, or realizing you weren’t really listening either?
Most people think they’re good listeners. But you’re not really listening when you’re…
- Preparing your reply
- Judging what’s being said
- Comparing it to your own story
- Rushing to what’s next
That’s not listening. That’s pretending. And it’s exhausting.
I learned this on the inner leader journey. It reminded me of my time in the U.S. Navy’s nuclear submarine force.
Deep below the ocean, everything mattered. The environment demanded awareness.
At work today, it’s the opposite.
You can sleepwalk through the day and no one notices. It’s considered normal. No wonder engagement is stuck at 23%.
Real listening begins when we discover we are not the voice in our head.
Most advice on listening is superficial. Having a constant voice in your head that comments and judges doesn’t make you a better listener, and most advice on listening overlooks this.
This is the truth we uncover on the inner leader journey.
