Welcome to the Arete Coach Podcast, hosted by Severin Sorensen. In this episode, we are honored to have Michael Reddington, a certified forensic interviewer and the author of "The Disciplined Listening Method." From our conversation, Reddington remarked, "Life is a series of solvable problems. So you can choose to focus on the problem or you can choose to focus on the solution." Michael is the President of Inquasive Incorporated and is renowned for his expertise in applying non-confrontational interview and interrogation techniques to business communication and leadership development.

In an engaging conversation, Michael Reddington shares his inspiring journey from his early career in special education to becoming a leader in the field of forensic interviewing and business communication. His path began in loss prevention for major retailers, where he discovered his talent for conducting interviews and interrogations.

Over the past decade, Michael has dedicated himself to mastering and teaching non-confrontational interview techniques, applying his expertise to leadership communication, sales, negotiation, and conflict resolution across 50 countries. Recognized globally, Michael has been featured in Forbes and Fast Company, and has guest lectured at prestigious institutions including Harvard and Northwestern. This episode delves into Michael's profound commitment to helping business leaders enhance their communication skills and unlock greater value from high-impact conversations, perfectly aligning with the Arete Coach Podcast's exploration of excellence in executive coaching.

In this conversation, Reddington talks about Disciplined Listening. Reddington's disciplined listening method is built on the foundations of active listening but goes beyond it. Disciplined Listening focuses on two fundamental principles: a. Uncovering hidden value in every conversation; b. Creating the communication experience other people require so they will do what we need them to do. It involves paying attention to subtle cues like pauses, changes in intonation, emotions, and specific word choices. The method emphasizes understanding why people choose to share sensitive information under vulnerable circumstances. It's about creating an environment where people feel comfortable sharing the truth, rather than just appearing to listen. Disciplined listening involves adapting the conversation setting and approach to make the other person feel at ease and more likely to share openly.

The Arete Coach Podcast seeks to explore the art and science of executive coaching. You can find out more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.

This episode was recorded via Zoom on August 30th, 2024.

Episode 118 - The Martial Art of Writing with Alan Baxter