LISTENING IS DANGEROUS

“The great majority of us cannot listen; we find ourselves compelled to evaluate, because listening is too dangerous. The first requirement is courage, and we do not always have it.” Carl Rogers

In the above quote Carl Rogers makes a pretty incredible assertion. He says that listening is too dangerous. In his context, listening is too dangerous to ourselves, that is, we are not courageous enough to really listen. So what is the danger? The danger is that you will be changed. You might change your mind— your understanding, your belief, your value, etc. As a coach even when you have no agenda except to be as helpful as the client allows you to be, you may be changed. Your ideas about the client may change. Your understandings of what you can do or need to do may change. And even deeper, the client’s presentation and struggle may affect you deeply— it may relate to things in your own life.