--- title: "Listening: Distractions and Actions" description: In order to actively listen to someone and comprehend what they are seeking to communicate to us, we need to be in a very different posture than what we often find ourselves in. image: https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/field%20of%20grass%20and%20perfect%20sky.jpeg --- ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) - [ABOUT US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - What is Process Consulting? - [MEET US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Areas of Specialty - Meet Our Process Consultants - Meet our Partners and Senior Consultants - Meet our Consultants - [Maestro-level leaders](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Society for Process Consulting](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Culture Change Leadership](https://www.acausegreater.org/) - [BE A CONSULTANT ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Explore Process Consulting - Community of Practice - Shared Platform - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - [RESOURCES ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Blog Library - Books - Podcasts - Cohorts - Case Studies - [ABOUT US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - What is Process Consulting? - [MEET US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Areas of Specialty - Meet Our Process Consultants - Meet our Partners and Senior Consultants - Meet our Consultants - [Maestro-level leaders](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Society for Process Consulting](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Culture Change Leadership](https://www.acausegreater.org/) - [BE A CONSULTANT ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Explore Process Consulting - Community of Practice - Shared Platform - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - [RESOURCES ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Blog Library - Books - Podcasts - Cohorts - Case Studies Get Started # Listening: Distractions and Actions ![Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/Consultant%20Headshots%20(NEW)/Lon%20L.%20Swartzentruber%20Headshot%20(300x300).png) by [Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/author/lon-swartzentruber) January 25, 2023 ## Ted Talks…I wonder if Ted ever listens. Last year a colleague of mine shared with me this cartoon. I love Ted Talks, but the truth in the caption made me laugh because of its candid truth. ![](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/ted%20talks-jpeg.jpeg) It can be very hard to listen to another person these days. There are many distractions that keep us from ***actively*** listening to someone, let alone listening to them fully, what we call ***comprehensively.***    Here is a short list of distractions that keep of us from listening and what we can do about it. What distractions would you add to this list? What behaviors have you found helpful in listening to someone needing your attention? | **Distraction** | **Helpful Pivot** | | --- | --- | | Feeling pressed for time | Being present with them in this moment | | My brain is full | Shutting down my computer and closing my eyes for a moment of rest | | I feel like I'm always on | Experiencing nature by taking a walk | | I've been trained to *get things done* | Realizing that life is a journey and not a finish line |   ![DGI - Core Competencies (2)](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DGI%20-%20Core%20Competencies%20(2).png?width=390&height=390&name=DGI%20-%20Core%20Competencies%20(2).png) In order to actively listen to someone and comprehend what they are seeking to communicate, we need to be in a very different posture than we often find ourselves in. We use the word posture here to describe our position in a listening relationship. Yes, there is a position in a listening relationship and it is characterized by being: - Authentic – we are bringing our full selves into this conversation - Empathetic – we are seeking to keenly understand what they are saying and the meaning of the words they are using - Non-anxious presence – we are at peace, present in this moment and in this conversation, our minds are here and nowhere else - Engaged – our bodies are fully and actively engaged, our ears, hearts, eyes, hands, feet, mouth, and brain are each tuned into what the other is saying so that we have *full-body listening* - Curiosity – we are seeking to understand what they are meaning with the words they are using...not our definition and meaning of the words they are using. Wow, that is a lot.  When I was in school, I never had a class in listening. Not in elementary school, middle school, high school, college, even graduate school. So, how can you become a better listener? These five postures are a helpful place to start, practice them with your significant other, a child, a parent, or a friend.  In doing so, you might find that your mind is quieter, your pulse slower, your heart is fuller, and your breathing deeper. In addition, you might find that you move closer in your relationship with them, you understand their perspective even better than before, you see them more clearly and individually, and you care more deeply about what happens next.  When we listen in this way and reflect back to them what we are hearing, something extraordinary might happen. They turn to you and say, ‘I couldn’t have said it any better myself!” When that happens, you’ve listened actively and comprehensively. Well done! If you would like to learn more about these and other skills of listening, please feel free to call me at 616.516.9870 or e-mail me at [lons@designgroupintl.com](mailto:lons@designgroupintl.com). You can also use this [link to schedule a 30-minute](https://meetings.hubspot.com/lons) Zoom call. I’d be honored to help you learn more about listening.  Mind how you go,    [![Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_Consultant%20Headshots%20(300x300)/Lon%20L.%20Swartzentruber.png?width=86&height=119&name=Lon%20L.%20Swartzentruber.png)](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/about-lon-l-swartzentruber)[Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/about-lon-l-swartzentruber) *Design Group International* *CEO, Managing Partner *   The core competencies of process consulting have been developed and are taught by the [Society for Process Consulting](https://www.societyforprocessconsulting.com/). If you are interested in receiving your credential in process consulting please visit our website.     ###### Tags: [process consulting, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/process-consulting) [listening, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/listening) [helping, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/helping) [learning, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/learning) [accountability, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/accountability) [Walking Alongside Blog](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/walking-alongside-blog) ![Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/Consultant%20Headshots%20(NEW)/Lon%20L.%20Swartzentruber%20Headshot%20(300x300).png) Post by [Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/author/lon-swartzentruber) January 25, 2023 I walk alongside leaders, listening to understand their challenges, and helping them lead healthy organizations that flourish. [Follow me on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lonswartz/) ### Comments ![Copy of Listening Helping Learning Blog Logo](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%20Listening%20Helping%20Learning%20Blog%20Logo.png?width=2000&height=1714&name=Copy%20of%20Listening%20Helping%20Learning%20Blog%20Logo.png) ### Subscribe Now! #### Listening, Helping, Learning... At Design Group International, our core values in process consulting are listening, helping, and learning. We use these competencies as we work alongside our clients to co-design solutions that support leaders and their organizations. Through our process consulting communities' writings, they will share insights on what they hear, how they help, and what they learn. [![Design Group International](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_DGI%20Logo%20(New)/DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape%20w_%20Tagline_White.png?width=325&height=153&name=DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape%20w_%20Tagline_White.png) ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/) - ABOUT US - MEET US - BE A CONSULTANT - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - RESOURCES © 2022 Design Group International. All rights reserved. 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