I spent the last two days in a wonderful coaching clinic, taught by Jodi Jan Larson, MCC, of CorporateCoachU and sponsored by DBM's Houston office. Perhaps the greatest shift for me came as a result of a simple two minute listening drill. Here's how to try it yourself.
Sit down with your practice "coachee." Ask her to talk for two full minutes on a topic she is passionate about. Your job is to listen. Don't say anything. Avoid reactions (like head nodding, smiling, raising your eye brows). Don't think about what you will say when the two minutes is up. Don't take notes. Just listen from a neutral position.
After two minutes - and only after the two minutes is up - summarize what you heard in ten words or less.
What this exercise did for me was to quiet my mind and open it up more fully to the other person. I was able to listen with my ears and my eyes, and pickup up what was said and what was not said. I thought I was a good listener, but this exercise showed me how it feels to listen at an entirely different level.
Give it a try and let me know how it works.
