Do you (really) know how to listen

Played at Agile Tour Zurich 2018

The manifesto emphasizes that the most efficient and effective method of conveying information is face-to-face dialogue. The main vector we use to communicate is language, and although we speak (generally) the same language, understanding each other is not always that obvious.

Through a series of exercises, I’m offering that we explore together an essential component of a good dialogue: listening. Indeed, listening, really listening, is not as easy as you might think!

During this workshop, you will get an overview of a method, Clean Language, that helps us improve our communication and relationships. This method is versatile and can be used within a team, with POs to clarify needs, with a client to identify issues, within a team to build trust or overcome a friction.

Transcript

1. Do you (really) know how to listen? The very first Agile Tour Zurich, isn’t that awesome!?
2. Hi! I’m Gaël, nice to meet you all! @GaelMareau https://theagilekaleidoscope.com
3. Some causes to misunderstandings ...
4. “Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings” Robert Plant
5. “We see the world as we are” anonymous Credit: Selcuk Erdem
6. Please wait
7. Let’s practice listening...
8. Mute: on Round 1 Don’t speak Don’t think about speaking
9. The parrot Round 2 Pick a word or two Repeat them
10. The lazy jedi questions Round 3 Pick a word or two Repeat them in one of the following questions What kind of X? Is there anything else about X?
11. How was it? Debrief Share with your pair In pairs share with another pair
12. What is clean language?
13. Clean questions Inviting a metaphor That X is like what? Identifying attributes What kind of X is that X? Is there anything else about X? Moving forward in time And then what happens? And what happens next? Moving back in time And what happens just before X? And where could X come from? Identifying a location And where is X? And whereabouts X?
14. So what?
15. Focus your attention
16. Give them space to think out loud
17. Get a better understanding
18. Improve your relationships
19. A big thank you to the organization team and to you! And a special thanks to Judy Rees https://judyrees.co.uk And to Caitlin Walker for writing “From contempt to curiosity” https://cleanlearning.co.uk @GaelMareau https://theagilekaleidoscope.com