The Art of Listening: A Key to Building Meaningful Connections

By Lee Young-sook, Goodtree Character School Representative

Photo Credit: GoodtreeUSA

Listening is defined as “paying close attention to others’ words and actions and acknowledging the importance of the speaker” (Goodtree Character School). When you focus intently while someone is speaking and strive to understand them, they feel valued and respected.

Global life coach and consultant Stephan Pollan once stated, “The best way to communicate is to listen.” Listening is a fundamental expression of respect, and serves as the first step to building trust and intimacy in relationships. Demonstrating respect towards others is a sure way to receive it in return. Above all, attentive listening is an ultimate expression of love that connects individuals.

Nurturing Character Through Listening

Deciding to “listen attentively from now on” does not instantly transform a child into a good listener. It requires practice. To cultivate listening skills, engage in character-building conversations with children every day.

Strategy 1: Clearly Define Listening

Listening involves “focusing on others’ words and actions and acknowledging their importance” (Goodtree Character School). To influence behavior, new information must be internalized and transformed into realizations that drive change.

Strategy 2: Encourage Eye Contact

Making eye contact is the first step in listening. When listening, looking into the speaker’s eyes indicates your focus and attention.

Strategy 3: Teach Active Listening with Gestures

Listening engages the whole body. When teaching children character, entertaining and joyful educational methods are recommended. Incorporating gestures and lively intonations helps facilitate learning. The Character Baby School defines listening as “Twinkle eyes, Open ears, Look and listen,” creating an enjoyable learning experience that motivates children to learn with a happy heart.

Teach children to maintain a listening posture—looking at the speaker, keeping their mouths closed, and holding their hands and feet still. Listening deeply embodies ‘love.’

The Essence of Listening

According to the Character Baby School, listening involves attentive ears, nodding heads, and focused eyes. The Goodtree Character School furthers this by emphasizing the importance of acknowledging others' words and actions, demonstrating care and appreciation.

For more insights, visit Goodtree Character School.

About the Author: Lee Young-sook

Lee Young-sook is the head of the Goodtree Character School and representative of GoodtreeUSA. She has served as a lecturer at renowned institutions such as the Blue House, Korea Educational Broadcasting System, and the Ministry of Education. As a prolific author, her works include "The 12 Characters Theory," "Character Dialogue Methods," and "Character Parenting Methods." She has also appeared in educational programs such as EBS’s "60 Minutes Parents" and SBS's "Our Child Has Changed."