The Human Skill AI Can’t Teach
Earlier this week, I was listening to a podcast with Simon Sinek, author of Start with Why, where he shared his thoughts on the growing presence of AI in our daily lives. I’ve become increasingly curious about how AI will shape our everyday experiences. Most people seem unaware of the profound changes it could bring. Simon appears to err on the side of caution, and what he fears most is how quickly we might lose key human skills—resolving conflict, making friends, truly listening, expressing our needs, living in alignment with our values, and so on.
Simon and I are both in the business of humans, so I suspect I share many of his concerns.
One of the human skills I value most highly is the ability to be an excellent listener.
To listen deeply—without judgement, without assumptions, without interrupting, and not even listening with the intent to respond—is a rare gift we can offer one another. We’re so conditioned to interrupt, interject, and insert our opinions, often without even checking whether they’re wanted. We rush to fix things without allowing an issue the time and space it deserves. Don’t get me wrong—I’m guilty of this too, though I work hard to resist the urge.
I believe that when we are held in a safe, open space, the whispers of our soul begin to emerge. The pain we’ve carried can be witnessed, tended to, loved—and, eventually, integrated into our lives in a way that informs us rather than defines us.
I’m fully in favour of using AI, yet even so, listening remains a deeply human skill—one that AI cannot teach. You can only become a good listener through practice: by trying, failing, learning, and trying again.
Perhaps the most frequent feedback I receive from my clients is that I’m a good listener. First of all, thank you. Second of all, this didn’t just “happen by itself.” I’ve trained as what’s known as a Time to Think coach. This approach, developed by Nancy Kline—author of Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind—is one I hold in the highest regard. She’s a remarkable human being.
For Nancy, it’s about going beyond “active listening.” It’s about listening in a way that ignites the thinker’s thinking. It’s about never interrupting and offering generative attention. Because when we give someone our undivided attention, we create the conditions for them to think for themselves.
All of this resonates deeply with me from an energy healing perspective too. Offering someone our full presence is a form of energy exchange—and that attention is inherently healing. I imagine that, together, we create an invisible bubble of generative energy. As we sit in that shared space, the thinker is able to clear away heavy thoughts and feelings simply by voicing them and receiving focused, compassionate attention.
It’s about listening without judgement. It’s not about fixing or responding. It’s about holding the space so the other person can keep thinking—and, hopefully, find their own way through.
By offering our time and presence, we support the other person to activate their own innate healing abilities.
That’s not to say there’s no room for mutual conversation or shared problem-solving. But I do believe that interrupting less and listening without judgement is an excellent place to start.
Journaling Prompt:
When was the last time you truly felt listened to?
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