Very useful skill. Listening skills replaced in top 10 WEF by emotional intelligence, but emotional intelligence also requires insightful listening and recognition of body language, asking questions, and a need to understand.

Important to give full attention to speaker. We have two ears and one mouth, so listening should be twice as important as speaking. Speaking is about projecting yourself, whilst listening is seeking to understand others.

There is great that listening skill could be training / learned thru

1/ Listen more often -> build stamina
2/ Geniune accurate -1 step further to listen from inside
    including observe the body language
3/ ask an open-ended question


This has to be practice to obtain the skill.

In the context of client and staff interaction, the podcast was a very good quick reminder of the "skill of listening" as opposed to talking. Listening is key to any number of situations and good listening skills very much strengthens interactions and relationships reflecting a genuine desire to fully understand what a client or colleague is communicating. The ability to as they explained in the podcast to “lean in” a little and respond as appropriate with open-ended questions and tie it in with emotional intelligence to build improved understanding and empathy with clients and colleagues viewpoints. I found a short sharp refresher on this important skill very helpful and a reminder to listen not just hear what someone is telling you.