This week, at I Am Here, we’re asking: Are We Really Listening to Understand?
- When someone communicates differently with us, do we adapt our listening to them, or expect them to adapt to us?
- Are we creating space in our Teams for different ways of thinking to be understood and heard?
- What might we be missing when we assume communication has landed, but it hasn’t?
In busy environments, listening can become passive. We hear words, but we miss meaning. We nod along, but our attention is elsewhere.
But real listening is different. It’s intentional. It’s present. It’s putting the phone away, slowing down, and giving someone your full attention, even for a few minutes. That is the single greatest way to build trust in any relationship.
What Are We Watching This Week?
This week, we’re sharing a short clip from a recent I Am Here live session, Leading Teams That Feel Safe, Supported & Determined To Perform, featuring Anna-Marie Brosi, Coaching Psychologist.
In this clip, Anna-Marie brings listening back to basics. Not as a technique, but as a behaviour.
Taking the time to sit down, be present, and have a real conversation without distraction.
It’s a simple reminder that in fast-paced Teams, one of the most powerful things we can do is slow down and truly listen.
Watch the full video here (12-minute watch)
What Are We Sharing This Week?
Listening becomes even more important when we recognise that not everyone thinks, processes, or communicates in the same way. If we’re not aware of that, we can miss meaning, misread intent, or assume something has landed when it hasn’t.
To mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we’re delighted to share a new I Am Here module exploring how workplaces can better support different ways of thinking.
Different Minds Work Here is short 15-minute module helps you understand how different thinking styles contribute to stronger, more innovative Teams, while also helping you reflect on your own strengths.
It offers practical, everyday ways to improve how we work and communicate together, including:
- Seeing capability, not just barriers
- Reducing cognitive load in how we share information
- Creating clearer communication that removes guesswork
- Shifting conversations in a way that reduces masking and builds psychological safety
Grounded in the I Am Here CLEAR skills, particularly Listening and Acceptance, this module turns awareness into action.
If you can’t find the module on the I Am Here Arena, or you’re not a Client, you can request access below.
Who Are We Quoting This Week?
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.’”
– George Bernard Shaw
This quote is a powerful reminder. Just because something has been said doesn’t mean it has been heard, understood, or felt.
At I Am Here, we believe listening is more than a skill. It’s a choice we make in everyday moments to show people they matter.
If there’s one small takeaway this week, it’s this: put the phone away, give someone your full attention, and listen without rushing to respond.
You might be surprised at what you hear.