Why am I a Professional Listner?

 I was wondering what and when was the best conversation of your life? Did it include listening? Did it include curiosity and questions? Was it full of awe? Did the conversation go deep? Did you lose track of time? 

If you can’t remember, then you probably haven’t had such a conversation yet. And through this blog, I am giving you, an opportunity to have the best conversation of your life.

If you have experienced such a conversation, then this an opportunity to feel good about it, and become aware, so that each conversation you have from now on is as powerful! Even the ones that seem irrelevant to you at the moment.

We all know someone, who just wants someone to listen to him/her. She doesn’t want any solution or any inputs. She just wants to be heard. I was curious, is it your partner? Is it your parent? Is it your child? Is it a friend? A colleague?

It started similarly for me. I wanted to be heard but while everyone else was talking, I felt lost and unheard. That’s when decided, I will hear everyone out. And this was even before I became a coach! So instead of focusing on finding someone to hear me out, I started listening more. I listened to everyone, without thinking about what am I going to reply to them. And without feeling the pressure of sharing my own thoughts because the person in front has so much to share. So I listened. As I listened, people had even more to share. And while everyone shared, more people came to share. And when I had more people sharing their minds and hearts with me, one of them said, “I don’t know why I share so much with you”. Then everyone said the same thing. And I told them, “because I listen and I understand”.

It was a breakthrough for everyone who was sharing with me. They learnt how important it was to listen. They asked me for more inputs. And when I shared, they listened without trying to add to what I said. And they listened some more. And while everyone listened to me, they confided in me, because I listened and understood them. And I was being heard as well. It’s all a loop.

But the reason for listening to them was not because I wanted to be heard. The reason was, to listen to those who felt the same way as me. It was to help hearts speak. And when I allowed it to happen for others, it happened for me as well.

Then I joined Professional Listening Communities and I listened. And hence, I call myself a Professional Listener.

Many have told me, for being a coach, listening is a pre-requisite then why add this as a separate capability? And I reply to them, some people are still not ready to be coached, they just want to be listened to. And I’m here for them as well. 

Try this and you’ll see wonders happening. Just listen with a open heart with no need for reply or react, and only questions to get more clarity. Nod, look them in they eye and rephrase. Try to ignore your internal conversations and judgements.

So, for whoever is looking for someone to listen, I’m here for you.