Do you ever feel unheard during arguments? Hosts Jessica Reyes and Patricia Wu are joined by guest spiritual educator and mental health advocate Rabbi Brandon Gaines to explore simple strategies to help you disagree respectfully and productively.
Active Listening
The first step is to commit to actively listening. This ensures that speakers feel heard and understood, even when they don’t agree. Rabbi Gaines says ego often gets in the way, though to combat this you can try “empathic listening” which means to listen fully without walls, judgment, or analysis.
Keep an Open Mind
Step two is approaching conversations with an open mind. This willingness to learn helps build meaningful communication. Rabbi Gaines explains that we all have bias so it’s important to take a step back and recognize that you may not have all of the information or facts so you can become a better listener and maybe learn something new.
Set Clear Expectations
Set clear intentions and expectations. Setting these before a conversation can make outcomes more constructive. Rabbi Gaines says to start by putting down the mission statement, the purpose of the conversation, so you don’t stray away from the focus of the discussion.
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