How to be a great listener | Maegan Stephens, Nicole Lowenbraun

Maegan Stephens and Nicole Lowenbraun introduce the concept of adaptive listening, arguing that effective listening involves adjusting to the speaker's needs in the moment. They differentiate adaptive listening from active listening, highlighting that work environments require more flexibility due to constant interruptions and diverse goals. Adaptive listening narrows down to four goals: discern (critique and evaluate), immerse (understand and remember), advance (move forward), and support (validate emotions). Support listening is crucial in every interaction. The speakers also identify four listening styles—support, advance, immerse, and discern—matching the four goals, noting that individuals often have a dominant style. Adapting one's listening style to meet the speaker's needs fosters trust and faster results.