Why do we struggle to listen?
We tend to think we are good listeners but the neuroscience tells a very different story. Listening to people who we agree with, well we can do that all day long. When we disagree, when we don’t like other peoples ideas we stop listening.
It’s the fundamental reason businesses build products customers do not want. Why we ignore colleagues who’s ideas are demonstrably better than our own.
To learn to listen you first need to understand why we don’t.
You will learn about:
Perception error - the evolutionary basis of “that idea feels wrong”.
Cognitive miser theory - why brains are lazy and want quick, easy answers.
Six thinking styles (top-down, bottom-up, convergent, divergent, associative, linear) and why people disagree.
How these concepts combine to stop us listening.
How to practically use your new knowledge every day, in work and outside.
This course can cause you to rethink every conversation you will ever have, by becoming aware of when you aren’t listening and why the person you are arguing with isn’t listening either.
Then and only then can you start the challenging job of building better products and services.
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Do you know you don't listen?
Driven by the false consensus effect, we often assume others share our exact thoughts, leading us to build the wrong products. This lesson explores how overcoming this bias can become your greatest superpower.
Driven by the false consensus effect, we often assume others share our exact thoughts, leading us to build the wrong products. This lesson explores how overcoming this bias can become your greatest superpower.
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Perception Error
While it is natural to feel a jarring sensation when faced with differing opinions, our dislike for these ideas is actually learned. This lesson explores perception error and how we react to others.
While it is natural to feel a jarring sensation when faced with differing opinions, our dislike for these ideas is actually learned. This lesson explores perception error and how we react to others.
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Cognitive Miser Theory
Because our brains consume a disproportionate amount of energy, they naturally seek the most efficient ways to process information. This lesson introduces Cognitive Miser Theory and our reliance on mental shortcuts.
Because our brains consume a disproportionate amount of energy, they naturally seek the most efficient ways to process information. This lesson introduces Cognitive Miser Theory and our reliance on mental shortcuts.
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Thinking Styles
We often mistakenly assume others think exactly like us, leading to confusion when their views differ. This lesson introduces six foundational thinking styles to help you navigate these differences.
We often mistakenly assume others think exactly like us, leading to confusion when their views differ. This lesson introduces six foundational thinking styles to help you navigate these differences.
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Bringing It All Together
When teams solve problems, clashing thinking styles and the tendency to conserve energy often cause us to stop listening. This lesson explains the neuroscience behind this and provides strategies to become a better listener.
When teams solve problems, clashing thinking styles and the tendency to conserve energy often cause us to stop listening. This lesson explains the neuroscience behind this and provides strategies to become a better listener.
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