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"Extraordinary Listening" is based on a simple principle and set of skills presented in a short, engaging inquiry. It can be tailored to any specific situation and takes as little as an hour of time. It will change the effectiveness of communication for everyone that participates. Listening means learning. The value of learning compounds over time. Extraordinary Listening is an inquiry into effectively transforming how self-protective behavior impedes communication, thinking, and the way we create our world. "The Power of Extraordinary Listening" transforms the energy of self-protective behavior into effective communication, and creativity. Every situation, in fact, any data input stimulates a process. During the neurological process we call thinking, the mind-body system goes on defensive alert until it ascertains a level of safety. Until I am certain the input is not a threat, I am defensively preparing myself to handle what I imagine is coming. My automatic reaction is to adopt "a better safe than sorry" posture, not consciously but reactively. "Listening" to my reactivity allows me to "listen" beyond it. This simple insight and practice are the study we call Extraordinary Listening. Once we see our defensiveness, we can consciously allow for this natural, protective, genetically-coded behavior. Instead of reacting to each other’s reactivity we can listen for deeper meaning. Once we simply intend an open state of listening, we interact with greater understanding. This, in a nutshell, is Extraordinary Listening 101.This study is a classic example of the old adage: it is simple but it is not easy.
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