Listening: Revisiting the Lost Art of True Connection with Ximena Vengoechea

One thing I've learned from years of talking about productivity is that focus doesn't happen automatically, but sometimes it begins with a cue. Sometimes it's something that you use to tell your brain, okay, we're working now. Brain FM is that for me. Brain FM is functional music designed for specific states like focus, relaxation, meditation, and sleep, and more. And for work, I like to think of it as a simple focus ritual. I pick the mode, I press play, and then I use that at the start of a work block. You can do it too. Treat it like an experiment. Go to beyondthe-do list.com slash brainfm and you can get 20% off to try brainfm. Or go to the link in the show notes. Again, you can try it and get 20% off by going to my link and supporting the show at beyondthe-do list.com slash brain. FM And welcome back to Beyond the To-do List, a podcast about productivity. I'm your host, Eric Fisher, and this episode is a re-release of a conversation I had with Hemena Vengochea, a researcher, author, and expert in communication and active listening.

Now, I just concluded a conversation that I recently recorded with her, but it made me think of this past episode that is a hidden gem in the catalog all about her book, Listen Like You Mean It. reclaiming the lost art of true connection. In this conversation, we're talking about the art of listening and why many of us think that we're listening when we're actually just waiting for our turn to speak. And that there are different levels of listening, and the difference between surface listening, empathetic listening, and why the latter is key to deeper relationships. Also how there are hidden needs in conversations and how both we and the person we're speaking with bring unspoken expectations into every interaction. And about how to avoid common listening mistakes, why we often get distracted when we're in conversation, how body language impacts connection, and how to stay present. Jimena's insights will help you become a better listener. I know I could improve on that, improve your relationships, and create more meaningful connections with every conversation you have.

So Enjoy this conversation with Himena Vanguchea. Well this week it is my privilege to welcome to the show Himena Vengochea Welcome to the show. Thank you so much for having me.

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