At first glance, listening sounds like a simple task. We think of it as something we learn to do as children and something that we do everyday. Sure, we have conversations all the time, but if you’ve ever had the experience of someone really sitting with you and listening — focused only on you, then you’ve felt the power of what listening can be.

This kind of listening, sometimes called “active listening”, doesn’t come naturally to most people. It is a skill that is learned with practice just like cooking or riding a bike.

Think back to a time when someone really listened to you, when you felt they were focused only on you, and you felt truly heard.