Heard to speech: Difference between revisions

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For example, in everyday chitchat ..., when we hear someon's story we tend to respond with a story of our own.  But that kind of "parallel storytelling" can keep us from learning all that might be learned from the first story and leave the speaker feeling unheard.  So the host of a transformative conversation must invite people to stay in "inquiry mode" for a while by asking the storyteller honest, open questions about what he or she has said.  Such questions, have the power, in the words of Nelle Morton to "hear people into speech," deeper and deeper speech.8  This not only helps people feel heard but helps them tell their story in greater depth, improving the odds that both the speaker and the listeners will learn something new.
Because they were there with me in the way that they were, it made possible my saying what I said, and it made possible all that came with getting to have said it.


What are the earmarks of an open, honest question?  First and foremost, an honest, open question is one you cannot possibly ask while thinking to yourself, "I know the right answer to this and I sure hope you give it to me."  For instance, "Have you ever thought about seeing a therapist?" is ''not'' an honest, open question! In contrasts, these are honest and open questions:  "What experience shaped the idea you just told us about?" "You said that your students are resistant to this approach.  What are the marks of that resistance, and what do you think causes it"  "You mentioned you find the work of such-and-such a writer helpful. What is that work, and why is it meaningful to you?"
The quote below talks about using [[Open,_honest_questions|honest, open questions]] to hear people to speech, but silent listening and other activities can also elicit different speech to come out of people.


These questions come from genuine curiosity and authentic inquiry ...  They do not put the speaker on the defensive.  They do not attempt to compel the speaker to go in a particular direction.  They allow the speaker to define his or her truth for himself or herself.
From: The Heart of Higher Education: A Call to Renewal by Parker J. Palmer & Arthur Zajonc, with Megan Scribner
 
... in everyday chitchat ..., when we hear someone's story we tend to respond with a story of our own.  But that kind of "parallel storytelling" can keep us from learning all that might be learned from the first story and leave the speaker feeling unheard.  So the host of a transformative conversation must invite people to stay in "inquiry mode" for a while by asking the storyteller [[Open,_honest_questions|honest, open questions]] about what he or she has said.  Such questions, have the power, in the words of Nelle Morton to '''"hear people into speech," deeper and deeper speech.<sup>8</sup> This not only helps people feel heard but helps them tell their story in greater depth, improving the odds that both the speaker and the listeners will learn something new.'''
 
<sup>8</sup> Nelle Morton, The Journey Is Home (Boston: Beacon Press, 1985),
pp. 55–56.
 
To read more about honest, open questions, [[Open,_honest_questions|click here]].

Latest revision as of 08:15, 18 November 2022

Because they were there with me in the way that they were, it made possible my saying what I said, and it made possible all that came with getting to have said it.

The quote below talks about using honest, open questions to hear people to speech, but silent listening and other activities can also elicit different speech to come out of people.

From: The Heart of Higher Education: A Call to Renewal by Parker J. Palmer & Arthur Zajonc, with Megan Scribner

... in everyday chitchat ..., when we hear someone's story we tend to respond with a story of our own. But that kind of "parallel storytelling" can keep us from learning all that might be learned from the first story and leave the speaker feeling unheard. So the host of a transformative conversation must invite people to stay in "inquiry mode" for a while by asking the storyteller honest, open questions about what he or she has said. Such questions, have the power, in the words of Nelle Morton to "hear people into speech," deeper and deeper speech.8 This not only helps people feel heard but helps them tell their story in greater depth, improving the odds that both the speaker and the listeners will learn something new.

8 Nelle Morton, The Journey Is Home (Boston: Beacon Press, 1985), pp. 55–56.

To read more about honest, open questions, click here.

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