Welcome to Becoming a Professional Listener, your self-guided tour to the basics of “high-quality listening.” Although there are other courses out there, how many were developed by an actual scholar of listening - someone who has done the primary research and invested countless hours into both best practices and to dispelling the many myths of what it means to listen well? Exactly one.

Access the course at the Foundation for Family and Community Healing here, and let me know what you think! If you enjoy your journey, I’d love to chat about what’s next!

The course explores these topics:

• Introduction

  • Introduction to Listening

  • What is Listening?

• Week 1: Your Relationship with Listening

  • Days 1-6: Self Assessment and Reflection

• Week 2: Know Thyself

  • Introduction to Week 2

  • Day 1: Know Your Barriers

  • Day 2: Know Your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

  • Day 3: Think Before You Listen

  • Day 4: What’s Your Intention?

  • Day 5: Learn From Your Mistakes

  • Day 6: Reflect on Week 2

• Week 3: Mindful Listening

  • Introduction to Week 3

  • Day 1: Be a Uni-Tasker

  • Day 2: Making Time for Blank Spaces

  • Day 3: Be Present

  • Day 4: Look ‘em in the Eyes!

  • Day 5: Slow Down

  • Day 6: Week 3 Wrap-Up

• Week 4: Learning to Shut Up and Listen

  • Introduction to Week 4

  • Day 1: The 80-20 Rule

  • Day 2: Keep the Other Talking

  • Day 3: Asking Questions

  • Day 4: Paraphrase Your Understanding

  • Day 5: Putting it Together

  • Day 6: Looking Back on Week 4

• Conclusion and Final Reflections

  • Looking Back on Your Month of Listening

  • Going Forward with Congratulations!