--- title: Can you please tell me more? description: "Can you please tell me more? Six very simple words. These words open up unlimited possibilities of understanding another human." image: https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/A%20Greater%20Cause%20Header%20%287%29-1.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) ![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/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - What is Process Consulting? - [MEET US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/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/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Explore Process Consulting - Community of Practice - Shared Platform - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - [RESOURCES ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Blog Library - Books - Podcasts - Cohorts - Case Studies - [ABOUT US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - What is Process Consulting? - [MEET US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/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/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Explore Process Consulting - Community of Practice - Shared Platform - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - [RESOURCES ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Blog Library - Books - Podcasts - Cohorts - Case Studies Get Started # Can you please tell me more? ![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/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/author/lon-swartzentruber) November 25, 2025 Can you please tell me more? Six very simple words. When spoken from a posture of curiosity, these words open up unlimited possibilities of understanding another human. We live in a very polarized world. We see and experience polarization everywhere. It is in the news, in our politics, in our schools, in our businesses, in our grocery stores, in our families, even in our churches, synagogues, and mosques. Polarization keeps relationships separated, fractured, and apart.  These six words can take us in a different direction. When we ask, ‘Can you please tell me more?’ from a posture of **curiosity**, we are seeking to understand the deeper meaning of what the other person is saying to us. As their answer to our question enters our ears and brain, there is a **superpower** we each have that can kick into action next. It is our **empathy**. Empathy has gone out of style as of late, but as humans, we each have a level of empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Empathy allows us to truly see another person, to feel (even experience) what the other person is sharing with us. This very same empathy allows us to learn more about what *they mean by the words they are using*, what *they believe about a situation, and why that is important to them*. Can you please tell me more?, does not end with their answer to our question and our empathic listening and learning of their response. Like Captain Marvel or Superman, what happens next is how we use of that **superpower** for good…in this case to continue building our relationship with them. When we respond to them and reveal a little more about ourselves, we are able to cross the chasm that polarization has created. We are able to make a step towards them rather than away from them. We have the opportunity to build something rather than destroy something. You have this superpower. They have this superpower. Which means that **we all** have this superpower. How cool is that! Lon ![Lon Signature_Cropped](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Lon%20Signature_Cropped.png?width=78&height=83&name=Lon%20Signature_Cropped.png)       ![Lon L. Swartzentruber Headshot (300x300)](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_Consultant%20Headshots%20(300x300)/Lon%20L.%20Swartzentruber%20Headshot%20(300x300).png?width=107&height=107&name=Lon%20L.%20Swartzentruber%20Headshot%20(300x300).png) Lon L. Swartzentruber *Design Group International* *Co-CEO & Senior Design Partner*   Along with a notebook and my favorite fountain pen, what’s in my backpack? [Becoming Trustworthy White Allies](https://www.amazon.com/dp/147803243X?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title), by Melanie S. Morrison [Teaming](https://www.amazon.com/Teaming-Organizations-Innovate-Compete-Knowledge/dp/078797093X), by Amy Edmondson [Humble Inquiry](https://www.amazon.com/Humble-Inquiry-3rd-Instead-Telling-dp-B0DJCSXNMK/dp/B0DJCSXNMK/ref=dp_ob_title_bk), 3rd Edition by Peter and Ed Schein   ###### Tags: [process consulting, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/process-consulting) [strategic planning, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/strategic-planning) [Design Group International, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/design-group-international) [leading organizational change, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/leading-organizational-change) [listening, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/listening) [helping, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/helping) [learning, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/learning) [relationships, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/relationships) [effective teams, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/effective-teams) [A Cause Greater Blog, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/a-cause-greater-blog) [visioning](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/visioning) ![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/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/author/lon-swartzentruber) November 25, 2025 I walk alongside leaders, listening to understand their challenges, and helping them lead healthy organizations that flourish. 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