“Building Community Through Listening” by Johnny Trinh
Johnny Trinh, an artist and poet, speaks about his time as an artist-in-residence at Connective (previously called John Howard Society ) in partnership with the Community Arts Council of Vancouver (CACV). In his work, he goes into communities and helps them create art by listening to their stories with the purpose of “building bridges between communities”.
Trinh mentions how although you can’t give someone a voice, you can create a platform for them to speak and for others to listen. When we listen to each other, we heal each other.
Trinh shares his poem inspired by the stories he heard at the John Howard Society, “Bottom of the Ninth”.
He concludes, “Community is so much more than a local geography or common identity or shared values. Community is a place where our stories intersect. Sometimes they collide, but sometimes they merge. This is our opportunity to listen...Winning isn’t about one team doing better than another team, winning is about learning to play together.”
“I Hear You: The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships” by Michael S. Sorensen
In this book, Sorensen, business executive and creator, shares the power of validation in forming stronger relationships.
People want to feel validated and like they belong. Empathy is the core of validation. We go about our days not knowing what other people are going through or how it is affecting their lives. A little empathy goes a long way in developing personal connections with others.
Validation has two key components: identifying an emotion and offering justification for feeling that emotion.
4 Steps to Validation:
1. Listen Empathically. Listen to understand not to respond. Don’t interrupt or judge the person who is speaking.
2. Validate the Emotion. Acknowledge their emotions and offer justification.
3. Offer Advice or Encouragement (if appropriate). Ask whether the person is seeking advice or if they simply want someone to listen. If you do give advice, use “I” statements.
4. Validate the Emotion Again. Additionally, validate their vulnerability for sharing.
To hear Michael Sorensen talk about the book, visit the YouTube link below.