Listen is a verb. Listening is an action. An action that you can communicate to others. An action that you can communicate to others when you are not speaking. It’s a vital half of a conversation.

Listen as if you are willing to be changed. Advice given to me by many acting teachers in my 30+ years as a performer.

Because actors are expected to practice this way of listening every time we step on stage or in front of a camera. Listening is a vital part of sharing a story. But if all I do as a performer is keep plugging along with what I have to say, regardless of what my scene partner is trying to communicate, then I’m closed off to what is happening in the present moment. I’m not open to the possibility of a new thought, a new intention, a new direction for the dialogue. We call it “phoning it in,” in the theater world. And it’s not a compliment.

Listen as if you are willing to be changed. It’s a way of listening also found in a trusted friend, parent, spouse, counselor, coworker, and leader.

As a business person, you can think of a remote meeting as your stage. You want to come to a remote meeting prepared, and perhaps with an agenda. But if you only come to your stage prepared to speak, are you really having a conversation? Are you really engaging your colleagues and clients? Are you really making a connection?

Listening takes practice and requires empathy. Empathy demands presence and curiosity. I think of empathy as a mindset. When I’m truly practicing empathy I’m looking for what matters to that other person and why it matters to that person.

So listening as if you are willing to be changed, is empathy in action.

When you start from a place of empathy, you create a pathway for dialogue and the possibility of a shared and memorable connection.

At this moment in time, I’m more aware of the need to make space and time to really listen. There is so much we don’t know about each other. Especially now, when we can’t share the same physical space, it’s more important than ever to give our colleagues and clients the opportunity to share their story.

Listen as if you are willing to be changed.

It’s good for business. It’s good for relationships. It’s the only way for all of us to move forward together as human beings.