Listening is an essential component of effective communication and is foundational to both building rapport with people and demonstrating emotional intelligence. Being able to listen properly is also a crucial leadership skill. Understanding the stages of the listening process helps us to be better listeners and to improve our listening skills.

Joseph DeVito identified that the listening process consists of five key stages, each playing a crucial role in understanding and interpreting messages.

This podcast looks at the stages in order:

1. Receiving
2. Understanding
3. Evaluating
4. Responding
5. Remembering

You can find out more details in the related article by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/the-five-steps-of-the-listening-process/

Wherever you are on your leadership journey, whether you are just leading yourself or managing thousands of people, there is always room for growth and improvement.

Here, I will introduce a competency framework to support leaders in their leadership development as well as the five foundational competencies that relate to each level.

You can find out more in the related article by following this link:
therightquestions.co/leadership-skills-the-five-level-competency-framework/

What is the biggest problem that you are facing now, and how should you try to solve it?

Professor Keith Grint identified that there are three key types of problems: tame, critical, and wicked.

His premise was that If you can work out the sort of problem you are dealing with, you can then apply the right leadership style or management approach to solve the problem.

This episode explores each type of problem in turn, with some examples. If you would like further detail then please follow this link to the related article:

https://therightquestions.co/wicked-problems-vs-tame-and-critical-issues/

Have you ever had a problem that, in trying to solve it, you have made it worse?

When trying to solve problems we make mistakes when we don’t properly understand the problem in the first place. Therefore, one critical step in decision-making is classifying the type of problem that you are trying to solve.

This is where the Cynefin framework can help us. It is a decision-making model championed by the Harvard Business Review and used by countless decision-makers, such as the US and UK governments.

This episode outlines the problem-solving approach and four main types of problems. You can find out more in the related article by following this link: https://therightquestions.co/the-four-types-of-problems-and-how-to-solve-them/

There are many types of questions, for example; open and closed, rhetorical, leading, loaded, or compound questions. This episode looks at six of the most common types using an example of two people going on a first date to the cinema.

To find out more you can read the related article by following this link: https://therightquestions.co/what-is-an-effective-question-and-was-that-open-or-rhetorical/

12 Common Biases Explained With Help From Simon Sinek

Implicit biases are assumptions, beliefs and rules of thumb in our minds, often based on our experiences, but that may not be reasonable or accurate. Bias affects all thinking, and it is not always bad, but we should be aware of it.

This is because the brain, as with a computer, loves speed. And, to be as fast as possible, the brain loves to take shortcuts. These decision shortcuts (known as heuristics) can help us make judgements at much greater velocities, but, as with taking shortcuts when driving, they can get us into trouble!

This episode shows how with the use of a personal example.

You can find out more in the related article by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/how-cognitive-bias-influences-thinking-and-decision-making/

Mind Maps are a form of visual, non-linear notes developed by Tony Buzan and used by countless successful people.If you are anything like me, and used to doodle a lot at school (or still do when trying to listen and take notes) then you will likely love mind mapping.

Mind Maps can be used for many things, including:

· Planning essays

· Taking notes (for example in talks and lectures)

· Making notes for presenting and prompts for public-speaking

· Memorising facts

· Brainstorming and problem-solving

· Visual facilitation in workshops

· And creating learning materials, presentations and videos

This episode covers the principles behind mind mapping and how to create a mind map.

You can find out more in the related article by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/what-is-mind-mapping-and-why-should-i-use-mind-maps/

What are the most important life skills? How should we navigate work, survive challenges, and thrive in our relationships?

Research by UNICEF, UNESCO, and the World Health Organisation (WHO), identified 10 essential life skills, common to the well-being of everyone.

So here is the list of the ten most important life skills, as per the research:

1. Critical thinking

2. Creative thinking

3. Decision-making

4. Problem-solving

5. Empathy

6. Interpersonal relationships

7. Effective communication

8. Self-awareness

9. Coping with stress

10. Coping with emotions

This episode introduces each skill area but if you would like more detail then follow this link to the website: https://therightquestions.co/the-top-10-life-skills-and-how-to-develop-them/

If you want to develop your skills then why not try out this online course (you can register and try out the initial material for free!), just click on this link: https://therightquestions.thinkific.com/courses/top-10-life-skills