Beyond Words - The 3 Levels of Listening & Speaking

This is the second installment of the Communication Series on the Aurum Blog.
Part 1 is focused on creating greater connection on a team

In the previous post, we discussed the significance of creating authentic human relationships on a team. The way we create genuine connection and understanding between people is by being fully present and available for the interaction. Communication is a back and forth flow of verbal and non-verbal cues between people, with listening being half, (or more), of that transaction.

The term "Levels of Listening" was coined by the Co-Active Coaching Institute, and has become a well-loved and used model to improve the quality of our listening. In this post, we elaborate the model to include the 3 Levels of Speaking, in addition to the Levels of Listening. 

 The Three Levels
Much of what happens in conversations and relationships hinges on the quality of our presence with and attention on others. In leadership, being aware of who we are being and/or how we are communicating is an important skill in relationship building and landing our message. How we speak and how well we listen have a powerful effect on the field, the room, and our relationships with one another. 

The principle of the Three Levels applies to both listening and speaking and can be described simply this way:

• Level 1 is when our attention is all or mostly on ourselves, our experience, our agenda.
• Level 2 is when we are able to place our attention on the other(s), consider their experience, receive who they are and be fully present with them.
• Level 3 is when we are wholly present, aware of ourselves (and how we are being), the other(s), and the whole field at the same time.
  
  

Our goal is to develop our capacity to notice ourselves in Level 1, and bring Level 2 and Level 3 listening and speaking to more of our communications.

The Three Levels of Listening 
Especially in leadership roles, we often focus on communicating and expressing, and forget about the power of genuine listening. Listening does more than help us take in information and gain valuable insight into what is happening in different aspects of a company, team, or project. The very act of listening (or not listening) significantly impacts the relationship(s) within any group endeavor. The way people are listened to impacts what they share, how much they disclose, their ability to come up with creative solutions, and their sense of value and importance.

In this model, there are three different levels of listening, each one with a different impact on both the person speaking and the listener. Which of the following 3 levels do you do most often?

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