Listen and check understanding · S9.5

Check whether someone wants ideas

You have a possible solution but are not sure it would help the conversation.

Everyday practice

Try these steps

1. Reflect the difficulty you heard in a brief sentence and invite correction.
2. Ask, 'Would you like me to listen, help think of options, or both?'
3. Follow their preference. If they want options, offer one and ask how it fits their circumstances.

An example

That sounds frustrating. Would ideas be useful, or would you prefer I listen?

Reflect

Did your response match what the person actually asked for?

Next time

Check again if the conversation changes rather than treating the first answer as permanent.