CHAPTER 4
The Practice of Listening
“No one ever listened themselves out of a job.”
—CALVIN COOLIDGE, 13TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Anytime coaches build on skillful observing and inquiring by enhancing their listening skills. Ordinary listening is not enough; anytime coaches employ extreme listening.
Extreme Listening
What is extreme listening? It is the ability to listen without bias, with the voice in your head turned off, and with complete attention on what the speaker is saying and what he or she means. Extreme listening is particularly difficult in today’s work environment because of the omnipresence of technology, the fast pace, and constant interruptions. The myth of multitasking has encouraged people to pretend to listen to ...
