
The Leader Learner Podcast Is Listening Over-rated?
Jan 9, 2026
35:00
THEME : Is listening overrated?
CONVERSATION POINTS:
- people think they are better communicators/listeners than they are
- listening is a very under-rated skill, and one to keep practicing
- knowledge is not opinion
- context shifts how we listen to people
- everyone deserves the right to be heard, but we don't have to take on board what they have to say
- listening without questioning what is true and what is not - practice discernment
- we listen through our own lens and biases
- What's the balance between listening to someone's opinion and sharing your own?
- when we give advice too soon, we may not be solving the right problem
- Are there contexts when we shouldn't listen?
- laws do not protect all people and do not represent all voices
- power dynamics affect people's listening
- who "has to" do the listening?
- when ego gets in the way of listening?
- higher ups need to spend more time listening to the people who actually know -- the experts
- when big companies enter into environments against the wishes and values of the citizens
- we are all capable of listening, but we don't practice and don't use the skill wisely
- the dyanmic of you're not listening to me, so I won't listen to you
- our ability to influence to change depends on our listening
- listen to ask better questions -- instead of thinking "that doesn't make any sense," ask a question to make sense
- train our listening every day
- deep listening to things we don't value is very challenging
- the righteousness that goes along with not listening
- People not voting based on policy, but on who listens best
- The skill of listening is crucial
- Listening as a skill that goes out the window when we are emotionally triggered
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