We covered a lot of ground at the Giving Conference this past weekend. On all scales. Debbie Gleason posted this in the conference proceedings on one end of the scale…
…the UnGame. It involved picking cards, reading the card out loud and then responding briefly to what was being asked on the card. The person answering a question was the only one allowed to speak. The object was active listening, only. No injecting other comments by relating similar experiences or anything additional. Sometimes there were comment/question cards, and then, after answering a question on the card, you could ask a question of someone else. That was the only way you could ask a question of someone for clarification. Otherwise, you just had to take things just as the person presented them before you. No judgments. No opinions. Just listening.
I found this to be a beneficial exercise because it’s very difficult not to want to interject your own comments into what someone else was saying. If you do that, you might change their meaning, and you might not be actively listening but falling into a pitfall of anticipating what you might say, instead. Much as I have always thought of myself as an active listener, I found that I am too busy with my own thoughts and how I might respond to a given question or comment. It was an interesting exercise in setting aside ego and paying strict attention in the moment.
Wish I’d been around for that one. I must have been off working on the other end of the scale. See our notes on the BetterWorldProjectStoriesOnlineGivingAuctionMarket that would aim to achieve a new level of global grassroots funding support for active citizens everywhere.
All in all, it was a phenomenal few days that look like they’ll have many hearty ripples. Thanks to all who joined us in Chicago and to the many who brought and continue to bring their attention to this work!