How to Listen So People Can Think

Encouragement

Giving courage to go to the unexplored edge of thinking by ceasing competition as thinkers

To be ‘better than’ is not necessarily to be ‘good’.

To compete does not ensure excellence: it merely ensures comparative success.
In competition, energy and attention are focused on
winning against each other. 
If we replace competition with wholehearted, unthreatened search for good ideas,
we can build on each other’s finest independent thinking
to find the best way forward.


— Adapted from TimeToThink.com

Photo: International Cheer Union 
Interrelated components

Encouragement

Each component of a Thinking Environment can impact the presence of any of the others.
For example, being surrounded by genuine Appreciation and freedom from untrue assumptions driving prejudice (component of Difference) can embolden thinkers and subdue the urge to compete. Knowing it will be their turn allows listeners to give full Attention so that they can take on board the thinking of others and build on it. 
leading the way

Improv has cracked the code

A number of one man shows, each trying to stand out from
the others, is not how you build an outstanding performance:
the performance is created together. Remove ‘but’ from your
vocabulary and replace it with
"Yes, and"

It’s as simple as that.
In theory.

Spot the missing component

To create a full Thinking Environment, all components need to be present. When the Thinking Environment is not what it should be, here are two things to look out for when it comes to Encouragement.

  • Is thinking taking into account what has already been said?

  • Are people are fighting for their own idea in order to win, rather than thinking in order to develop the best idea? 


If Encouragement is not fully present, how can it be restored or introduced? Are participants aware of the importance of ceasing competition? Is there sufficient Appreciation so thinkers know that they are valued, even if their idea is not being picked up?