Deep Listening: The “Contextual Intelligence Key” to Understanding People
When it comes to truly understanding people, context is key. For instance, when you see a frowning person seated across from you in a train, what does that mean?
Are they upset at you? Did they have a bad night and lack sleep? Are they angry about something that happened at home? Is there a work meeting they’re really not looking forward to? Or do they just dislike taking the train in general? Perhaps, that be their “neutral” face, and they aren’t actually upset, disappointed or angry about anything at all?
Without context, there’s simply no way to know. That’s why contextual intelligence is crucial when we want to get to know someone. And one of the best ways of unlocking this insight is with deep listening – which is why we call it the “contextual intelligence key” to understanding people.
The essence of deep listening
Deep listening, in the context of contextual intelligence, goes beyond merely hearing words or understanding their literal meaning. It entails paying close attention to not only the verbal content but also the emotions, intentions, and nuances behind what is being communicated.
This form of listening encompasses empathy, emotional intelligence, and an awareness of cultural, social, and situational factors that may impact the message being conveyed. By practicing deep listening, individuals can become more attuned to the complexities of human communication – fostering a greater understanding of people, their motivations, and their perspectives.
Deep listening in technology
What is the potential of technologies with deep listening capabilities? Tremendous.
At Burgessy, our technologists have successfully implemented deep listening into several tech solutions – including one that enables business owners and HR professionals to better understand job candidates.
And unlike standard solutions that rely on typical methods like resume skimming and keyword identification, our deep listening model truly “listens to” what candidates are saying – diving beneath the surface (i.e., what candidates say in their cover letters, emails and resumes) and really understanding a person’s point of view, their working pace, openness to risk and collaboration, readiness for peak performance at work and challenges, their present life situation, and much more. Perhaps most uniquely, we do this without the use of questionnaires, second guessing or hearsay.
Our technology listens intently to what people say and share with us. It understands the nuances in what’s being said (or not said) and expressed (whether verbally, through writing, or in the form of art, music or movement), places everything in context, and generates insights that accurate reflect the person’s true thoughts, feelings, and present capabilities.
Deep listening: The bedrock of contextual intelligence
As we’ve explored today, deep listening is a critical component of contextual intelligence – and the key to genuinely understanding someone else. By cultivating the skill of deep learning (or using contextual intelligence tools to help us do so), we can enhance our understanding of the people around us to foster empathy, compassion and inclusivity.