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What If We Really Paid Attention?

Thursday Oct 11 2007

By Don Arnoudse
Bio

We live in a culture that has truly gone mad with “multi-tasking”. I confess I’m guilty too. Even as I write this blog, I have my Bose earphones on as I listen to Neil Young singing “Helpless” in his uniquely plaintive style. OK. I’ve turned Neil off for now. At the same time, I believe most of us crave receiving the undivided attention of someone we care about. Attention that is completely focused on us with no distractions. No TV, no laptop, no cell phone, no thoughts of “What’s for dinner?”, or what I wish I had said in my last conversation this morning, or what I need to do before I go to bed tonight.[Read More]

Written by eldering at Personal Empowerment
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Tagged with: listening multi-tasking present time

The Tonic of Provocative Conversation

Wednesday Mar 28 2007

By Don Arnoudse
Bio

I get paid, and quite handsomely, for listening and talking to people. As a Personal and Executive Coach, I’ve engaged daily for the past six years in the most intimate, often surprising, and always intense dialogues with very interesting people who are dealing with high-stakes dilemmas in their professional and personal lives. Part of my process is to intentionally provoke them. Provoke them into thinking in unconventional ways, into getting in touch with deep feelings they’ve been avoiding, and coming to grips with uncomfortable realities they’ve been deferring. And they provoke me, in turn. By surfacing issues they haven’t discussed with anyone (in some cases, not even their spouses). They invite me to dive into the complexities of their situations and help simplify their choices, generate new possibilities and shine a light on their blind spots.[Read More]

Written by eldering at Wisdom in Action

Tagged with: coach conversation insight listening power speaking