Most leaders think they’re good listeners. But are they…?
Be honest: When someone is speaking, are you really, really listening, or just waiting for your turn to talk?
We all fall into these familiar traps:
❌ Comparing — “That happened to me too!”
❌ Competing — “Oh, that’s nothing! My situation was worse.”
❌ Mind-reading — “I already know what you’re going to say.”
❌ Unsolicited advice — “If I were you…”
But great leaders listen like screenwriters, because every conversation is part of a bigger story.
A screenwriter isn’t just writing dialogue. They’re shaping the narrative: uncovering meaning, tension, and transformation. Every conversation they write moves the story forward.
Here’s how you too can listen like a screenwriter:
Read between the lines: In film, some of the best moments are in the pauses, the subtext, the things left unsaid. Instead of jumping in with advice, ask yourself: What’s the deeper story behind their words?
⏳ Embrace the uncomfortable pause: Often, the most powerful movie scenes rely on silence. The tension, the hesitation, the moment before a revelation. Next time you’re in a conversation, resist the urge to fill the space. Let silence do its work.
Listen with future ears: A screenwriter shape what’s coming next. Listen not just to words, but for the turning points in someone’s story. Are they on the edge of a breakthrough, a transition, a realization?
The best leaders listen to help create a narrative that guides their teams and organizations toward growth.
So next time you’re in a conversation, try this:
Pause.
Read between the lines.
Listen not just for words, but for the bigger story unfolding in front of you.
Is silence in conversations awkward or powerful for you?
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