Listen: Improve your communication skills by learning to listen

Presented by: 
Alex Abdel-Malek
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 - 10:00am
Zoom Meeting Platform
AAPS Professional Development Program
Focus Area: Communication Skills

 

Program Summary

Most business and work communication trainings tend to focus on speaking, sharing, directing, or influencing others. The emphasis is on the expressive part of communicating: conveying, asserting, directing, managing. But the real advantage in communication skills comes through being a powerful listener, someone who has skills beyond the rudimentary of being able to recite back what was said. 

Strong listeners help others feel known, seen, respected--even in difference. It is our listening to deeply understand that earns relatability, trust, and credibility. Without these elements, how far can any of us take our relationships, whether at work or at home?

Just think of a time you felt listened to in a full and open way. Now contrast this with an experience of not feeling listened to or only in a superficial manner. Notice how different the two experiences leave you feeling about yourself and the other person. 


This session will help you to develop this capacity and strengthen your listening capabilities by:

  • Learning the deep listening model, so you have a framework to follow—a “how-to” listen more effectively to others in a way that promotes genuine understanding and connectedness
  • Identifying the listening barriers that come up in others and in ourselves and what to do to move past them
  • Learning how to remain calm and non-defensive while hearing someone’s views you do not agree with
  • Improve your ability to hear and identify what matters most to the other person in a conversation.
  • Being more comfortable and skilled when others talk about feelings
  • Learn how to respond in a way that feels truly supportive to someone feeling stressed or distressed

This session will primarily emphasize the internal experience of listening what good listeners are doing in their minds, hearts, and bodies as they hear another. The workshop will be part presentation, part reflection, and discussion-based.


Participation

  • The session will run from 10am-12pm
  • The session is open to AAPS members only
  • The session will be held on the Zoom meeting platform
  • Video and your active participation are strongly encouraged during the sessions
  • We will be using breakout rooms
  • The Zoom sessions will not be recorded, but a pre-recording will be made available to all registered participants
  • We will have auto-captions, or a live captioner can be available on request
  • If you have accessibility questions or needs, please let us know in advance by emailing aaps.pd@ubc.ca

 

Registration Options

About your facilitator

Alex Abdel-Malek, MSW, RCC, is a psychotherapist, critical incident specialist, professional trainer, and speaker. He is devoted to understanding how meaningful choices affect our health and wellbeing. In addition to his own clinical practice, Alex is a sessional instructor at Simon Fraser University. He has over 25 years of clinical teaching experience and has developed programs for numerous public sector organizations, including the CBC, Crown Counsel of BC, Thompson Rivers University, and UBC.