656: How to Understand People Better, with Heather Younger

In this episode of Coaching for Leaders, Heather Younger, the author of "The Art of Active Listening," shares insights on enhancing listening skills to become a more effective leader. She emphasizes the importance of shifting our focus from listening just to respond to truly listening to understand. By paying attention to both verbal and nonverbal cues, we can better connect with the speaker. Younger stresses the need to be fully present, eliminate distractions, and recognize that sometimes the best way to help is simply to make someone feel heard, even if we can’t immediately solve their issue. The conversation also touches on overcoming the fear of unexpected turns in dialogue and the value of broadening our listening circle to embrace diverse viewpoints.