3 minutes max. · Episode 8 · Senses and emotions
Our senses - Listening That Delivers: Sharpen Team Hearing
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About this episode
- Episode
- #8 of 48
- Published
- 3 September 2025
- Length
- 2:36 min
- Series
- Senses and emotions
- Hosts
- Andre Ottlik and Jules (AI)
In short
Under time pressure you often hear the words but miss the meaning. This episode brings back active listening: hold the space instead of firing back solutions. Two exercises help you understand people and requirements better and save rework.
Three things to try
- Listen for three minutes with no advice and no own stories when a teammate describes a problem.
- Then ask two questions: how would you know it is solved, and what is the smallest next step?
- On a call with video off, note volume, pitch, pace and pauses, then mirror what you heard without judging.
Read more: Communication (Part 1 of 2) — The Only Tool You Never Put Down
Transcript
Read the full transcript
- 00:00 Andre Ottlik
- Welcome to 3 minutes, max. Today we are sharpening our listening skills so you understand people and requirements better and save yourself rework. In our research for this week, I stumbled on lots of tech gadgets we'll likely see more of soon. From brain implants and glasses with cameras to hearing aids with noise canceling that make listening across distance easier. All of course, with AI. But today we are going old school: active listening in the spirit of Carl Rogers. First described in 1957.
- 00:37 Jules
- Especially under time pressure you humans listen selectively. Words - yes. Meaning - no. That can change.
- 00:45 Andre Ottlik
- Let's say a teammate describes a problem and instead of firing back solutions immediately, we hold the space and check whether we've truly understood everything.
- 00:55 Jules
- You've got two options today.
- 00:57 Andre Ottlik
- Tip one: the three two one listening. First three minutes of pure listening. No advice, no own stories. Then ask two questions. How would you know the problem is solved? And what's the smallest next action? And then at last offer one summary. Did I get you right that day? Then pause and let them confirm or correct.
- 01:22 Jules
- This builds psychological safety and prevents misunderstandings. Often about half of issues clarify right there.
- 01:30 Andre Ottlik
- Tip two: the audio only nuance drill, which is perfect to learn on the phone. You listen to someone for two to three minutes with video off or eyes closed, and then jot a few notes. What about volume? Is she or he getting louder or softer. What about the pitch? Rising or falling? How was the pace and the pauses? Short or long? Were there breaths of sighs, stretching and emphasis or filler words? And at last, 60s of mirroring. Descriptive. Not judgmental. I heard you get quieter at at that point after the longer pause. What mattered to you here?
- 02:10 Jules
- Be careful interpreting: these nuances can hint at how the other person feels and what they think. It takes a few repetitions before you will judge people more accurately. Have fun with it.
- 02:23 Andre Ottlik
- You'll find the tips, as always in the episode description. Follow 3 minutes max. Share it and message me on LinkedIn if you want to know more.
More on Senses and emotions
- #7Our senses - See Better, Decide Better: Sharpen Team Vision
- #8Our senses - Listening That Delivers: Sharpen Team Hearing (this episode)
- #9Our senses - Feeling as a Leadership Skill: Stay Clear Under Pressure
- #10Our emotions: Spot Your Emotions: Sharpen self‑awareness before they steer you
- #11Our emotions: Shift Your Emotion: From stress to clarity in 2 minutes
- #12Our emotions: Let Emotions Go: Get your focus back, stop rumination
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