What is one of the greatest gifts you can give to someone? Simply listening, really listening, deeply listening to them. Here is a challenging and phenomenally enlightening exercise to try...

Make an appointment to listen to someone speak for 30 minutes. All you will do is listen. You don't make a sound. Just sit with them and allow them to say anything and everything they want. For 30 minutes.

That's it!

When you complete the exercise, here are some questions to help you debrief and deepen the learning:

What did you notice about yourself while you were listening?

What did you notice about the other person?

How did the person respond to being listened to?

Did you find this challenging?

What does this tell you about the importance of listening to a client?

What opportunities did your silence create for both you and the other person?

How are you a better coach for having done this exercise?