The four levels of listening 7.30.21

Otto Scharmer, Senior Lecturer in the MIT Sloan School of Management, has a great piece around the four levels of listening...

• Level 1 is downloading. We are taking in facts and judging those facts

• Level 2 is factual listening. Here, we have an open mind.

  • We are even disconfirming/contradicting your prior judgments.

  • Great power lies at this level. Being able to notice and be open to the new information that contradicts our prior judgments is one root of innovation

• Level 3 is empathic listening. Here, we have an open mind.

  • We see through another's eyes and make emotional connection

  • Listening does not come from our own perspective, but from the perspective of the person sharing. We are putting ourselves in their shoes as we listen.

• Level 4 is generative listening. Here, we listen with open will

  • We connect to our future selves of who we aspire to be

  • A great coach will listen to our struggles, goals, etc., and be able to see in us our greatest possibility of self

  • Further, that great coach or educator will be able to help us get there