Multi Layered Listening
How
In breakout groups each person will talk about the chosen topic. When someone else is speaking, the group should self-assign each member one of the following listening roles:
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Listening for the deeper message of the conversation, i.e is the conversation about grief? about hope?
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Listening to your own experience of listening i.e, what emotions are coming up for you?
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Listening to the interesting, good ideas and inspirational moments.
Change roles so that a different person is speaking and everyone else takes on a different listening role..
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Bring everyone together to share what they have learned.
Why
Asking people to listen in this way can be useful as sometimes when we are talking with each other, instead of listening we can just be thinking about what we are going to say after. Doing an activity like this can encourage more focused listening that moves between different depths.
