Listen to what the person is saying, the event sequence, the emotion in their voice.
Reflect Back what they say in your own words. Ask if it’s correct.
If you miss the point or get the sequence wrong. Repeat the first two steps.
This shows the person you are truly listening. It shows you care.
This also keeps you from interrupting or trying to ask questions too early.
This results in a shared understanding of what’s important, the key sequence of events, and the result.
This tip is simple to explain but hard to do. It’s difficult not jumping in. Difficult trying not to solve the problem. However, by Reflecting Back what we hear we will improve our understanding and be in a better spot to collaborate.
What’s keeping you from trying this today with a teammate, a client, your manager, or spouse?
This comes from a video from Dr. Ali Mattu.
