Stacy Crawford of Klear Water Coaching and Wellness says listening is a fundamental yet overlooked component of effective communication, and there are ways to cultivate these skills.

She references research by Oscar Trimboli, author of the book How to Listen and podcast host, which indicates that people often believe they are six times better at listening than they are.

Stacy suggests tuning in when individuals engage with us, putting down our phones, and taking a moment to breathe and listen without responding.

Listening for Difference is another good practice. “So often we want to relate to people… listening for difference is really tuning in to hear what someone is saying is different from what you know,” Stacy suggests leaning in with curiosity. “How often do we with our partners or children take the time to really hear what they are saying?”

Lastly, Stacy reminds us “Listening is not the same as agreeing with what they say. Deep listening can help us find deeper connections with one another.”