‘Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. They’re either speaking or preparing to speak.’
Covey (2022, p.222)
Think about this statement next time you communicate, you may find that you can relate to it! When you hear someone mention something you have already have an experience of, you may feel tempted to jump in and relay your own experience, rather than listening to what they have to say. Or you may, inadvertently, use you own experience of the situation to tell the speaker how they should be feeling. Instead, try to listen to what they have to say without interrupting. Consider why they are sharing their experience, are they looking for support, guidance, empathy, or encouragement.
Covey (2022) suggests that empathetic listening is listening with the intent to understand, to see the situation through the speaker’s eyes and not your own.
