How to Make People Feel Heard — Without Saying a Word

When was the last time you truly felt heard, without judgment, interruption, or unsolicited advice?

In this episode of The Leader’s Kitbag, I explore the transformative power of listening.

Drawing on a powerful exercise I ran during a recent leadership programme, I share how simply holding space for someone to speak, without fixing, advising, or interrupting, can lead to deeper self-awareness, clarity, and connection.

You’ll learn:

• Why silence can be your most powerful leadership tool
• How to resist the urge to “fix” and instead be fully present
• What really happens when people feel heard

If you want to lead with more impact and humanity, this episode will give you a simple (but not always easy) practice that can change the way you show up in every conversation.

 

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Whether it’s a bespoke leadership programme, executive coaching, or a keynote that connects on a human level, I’d love to support you.

Drop me a line at chat@ben-morton.com or fill in the contact form on my website here.

Let’s build leadership that listens — and leads

Podcast Transcript: The Gift of Being Heard 

When was the last time you truly felt heard, able to speak without judgment, without interruption, and without being given advice you didn’t particularly want or need? 

If you’re like many people I speak to, you might be struggling to remember such a time. 

Now imagine being able to give that gift - the gift of being truly listened to – to someone else. 

A colleague. A team member. Someone you lead or manage. 

That’s exactly what I want to talk about in this episode of The Leaders Kit Bag. 

A Leadership Exercise in Listening 

Recently, I ran a leadership programme for a multinational company. 

Early on, I paired participants up and asked one person to talk for about four minutes about a real challenge – either personal or work-related – that they really cared about. 

The other person’s role? 

Just to listen. No solutions. No advice. No input. Just listen.

Afterwards, I asked the speakers how it felt. 

The results were amazing, as they always are. 

People said things like: 

“It felt incredible.”

“I feel like I understand my own challenge better.”

“I actually feel better about the issue just from being heard.” 

The listeners didn’t say a word. And yet something shifted. 

So, How Do We Do That? 

The key is simple, though not always easy. 

We need to pause. Step back in our one-to-one conversations and meetings. Dial up our patience. Resist the urge to jump in with advice or our own “pearls of wisdom”. 

And most of all, we need to get comfortable with silence. 

Silence Isn’t the Enemy 

Many of us – especially as leaders – find silence uncomfortable. We rush to fill the gap with guidance or experience. 

But often, the greatest gift we can give is just space. The chance for someone to think, speak, and feel heard. 

And here’s the thing: while that silence may feel awkward to you, it almost certainly doesn’t to the other person. 

They’re just processing. Thinking. 

And that’s where the magic happens.