The textbook describes the Listening Process as; "receiving, understanding, interpreting, evaluating, remembering, and responding..." while Julian Treasure's is R.A.S.A.- Receive, Appreciate, Summarize, and Ask. The shared similarities are receiving, summarizing/evaluating. The textbook gives us more of an informational interpretation of the process while it feels like Julian's way is relational to me. Yes, both are ways of listening but his is more personal.

Question

I do best at understanding. I work hard at being empathetic to people and their emotions.

I struggle with the start of it, paying attention. I try to pay attention but my mind tends to go elsewhere. Not that the person talking is dull but that my thoughts are like pop rocks candy, kinda all over. A way I can work on this is to be more mindful of where my attention goes. To be more present and focused on the conversation.
To follow un - find someone who has a similar weakness as voi. Would their
solution work for you? Why or why not ?

Answer 1

It sounds like you have a solid understanding of the listening process and how you relate to it! Your analysis of the similarities between the textbook's description and Julian Treasure's R.A.S.A. model is insightful, highlighting how listening can be both an informational and relational process.

As for your challenge with paying attention, it’s great that you're aware of it and are looking for ways to improve. Mindfulness is indeed a powerful technique for enhancing focus and presence during conversations.

Finding someone who shares a similar challenge in paying attention could be beneficial. For instance, if you connect with someone who practices techniques like deep breathing or visualization to ground themselves in the moment before engaging in conversation, you might find those strategies helpful as well. They may suggest setting intentions before a discussion, such as zoning in on one key point they want to remember or practicing active listening techniques like nodding and making eye contact, which can help keep your thoughts anchored.

Alternatively, if their approach involves taking brief notes during conversations to recapture their attention and maintain focus, that could resonate with you too. Trying out different methods could provide you with more tools to see what best suits your personal style of listening and how to build on your strengths in understanding and empathy.

Ultimately, I've found that combining different approaches can often yield the best results. Experimenting with various strategies, like mindfulness and active involvement, might help you cultivate a more attentive listening practice.