UPBUILDING THE SELF

The Four Listening Channels and the Power of Curiosity

Listening is a skill that is foundational to life and to relationships, which is also why it has become the foundational skill for the Upbuild Coaching Training program. In this episode, Mary, our new co-host who designed and helped launch the coaching training program, along with Vipin, explore the importance of listening and introduce us to the concept of the “four listening channels.” They give tips on how to become a better listener, what’s at stake if we don’t work on our listening skills, and how to use our innate curiosity to drive connection and help develop other people.

Podcast Hosts: Vipin & Mary

Highlights

  • [1:00] Introducing Mary Kuentz

  • [3:40] What is essential about listening?

  • [6:20] The Self Channel

  • [8:00] The Other Channel

  • [12:10]  The Environmental Channel

  • [15:10]  The Art of the Meta-Conversation

  • [21:00] Pointing your attention to the different channels

  • [24:00] The Transformation Channel

  • [27:00] The benefit of listening to “what’s trying to happen?”

  • [32:10] Coaching the person and not the problem

  • [35:10] How to become a better listener

  • [43:10] Listening as an opening to curiosity

  • [45:57] For people who think, “I’m just not a curious person…”

Quotes

  • “We don’t automatically always know what to do with our listening, but we can learn.” -Mary

  • “If something comes in and it’s trying to happen, to put our attention there can be life-changing.” -Mary

  • “To be a better listener, you have to listen to yourself, first.” -Mary

For first timers, welcome to Upbuilding the Self

About the podcast: Two former monks, a former startup founder and CEO, and a former equity derivatives trader dive into how to be our best selves, free from the ego. Our egos are the identities we create for ourselves and wish the world to validate, but when we are not seen as we want to be, we feel insecure. This podcast lives at the intersection of leadership and spirituality. It will help you understand your ego and shed light on your inner world so that you can act with greater clarity, compassion, and the freedom to be your best self.