Heard, Seen, Respected
Practice deep listening — without fixing or judging — by taking turns telling a story of a time you were not heard, seen, or respected. Adapted from Liberating Structures (https://www.liberatingstructures.com/heard-seen-respected), licensed CC BY-NC 3.0.
4 parts · 7 phases
- Recall a time you weren't heard, seen, or respected
Think of a story that feels safe to share — there's no need to tell the hardest one.
Each person takes a turn as storyteller.
- Tell your story
speaker: Share your story of a time you were not heard, seen, or respected.
listener: Practice quiet presence. Listen attentively and ask only "What happened next?" If your partner finishes early, sit together in respectful silence.
- Reflect together
Each person shares what the experience of telling and listening was like — what emotions and insights came up.
Two pairs join, keeping your partner with you.
- Notice patterns across the stories
What patterns do the stories reveal? How important are these patterns?
- Where is deep listening most valuable?
A few people reflect on where this kind of listening would matter most.