July 2019 - A Better Listener

When thinking of what constitutes a good listener, minimal encouragers are likely to come to mind. If you don’t know what ‘minimal encouragers’ are, you likely are familiar with hearing or saying them. Minimal encouragers are utterances such as: “Mhm,” “yeah,” “oh,” (nodding of the head), and a favorite in Wisconsin: “interesting.” A “minimal encourager”

This week, I’ve been out in my raspberry patch, picking delicious berries. All this hunting for the ripe berries has me thinking about the importance of timing. In conversations about change, timing is essential. The moments at which a better listener (you!) chooses to use a strategic question, reflection statement, or affirmation – not too