A fundamental skill for coaching is the ability to listen. Not just to hear what is being said to you, but also to feel it too – as emotions which are shared, and evoked, are such an important insight into what is being communicated. In this short article by Stephen Moss in the Guardian, he shares the learning of journalist Kate Murphy on how to be a good listener. My takeaway from it is simple, just trying to be more mindful when listening to others.
“The real art of listening lies in caring, profoundly caring, about what you are being told and about the person who is telling their story…Curiosity, empathy, a genuine interest in other people. The art of listening is really the art of being human.”
The Social Enterprise 