Listening and Speaking

When working in pairs or groups these simple measures help us to connect and communicate more effectively

When Listening

• We aim to pay attention carefully when others are speaking, rather than using the time to come up with our own response.
• We aim to use active listening with the intention of trying to understand what the other is sharing, recognising that people can actually think better when they feel listened to.
• We aim to come from a place of trust that everyone is in the Rebellion for the best of reasons and with a shared vision of change.

When speaking

• We aim to be in dialogue with others speaking to, rather than at them.
• We recognise that some people find speaking in groups challenging, so we make space for everyone to speak who wants to.
• We aim to stay aware of what we are saying in meetings, keeping the acronym WAIT in mind. Why Am I Talking?
• We aim to speak on our own behalf, from our own experience using ‘I’ statements.

Taking a pause.

• We might invite the meeting to take a brief pause; to take in the impact of something a group member has shared or when it seems that the participants have lost the rhythm of speaking and listening respectfully.