Communicating with “Giraffe Ears” | Listen Beyond the Words

Workshop Description

In every meaningful relationship, communication is shaped by personal filters – our biases, assumptions, past experiences, and emotional states. These filters influence how we hear others, sometimes distorting their words and leading to misunderstandings. How often do we feel hurt by what someone says, only to realize later that our reaction was shaped more by our own perceptions than their intent?

This workshop introduces the concept of “giraffe ears”—a metaphor for empathetic listening that helps us move beyond surface words to the emotions and unmet needs beneath them.

When someone’s words feel hurtful, it’s often not just about what they said—it’s how we filtered their message. Many times, what sounds like an attack is simply an expression of the other person’s unspoken emotions or needs. Rather than reacting defensively, we can shift our mindset to curiosity:

🔸 What in me was triggered by their words?
🔸 How might my filters be shaping my interpretation?

By learning to listen beyond the words, we can transform conflict into deeper understanding and respond with empathy rather than defensiveness.

Key Skills You’ll Develop:

🔸 Empathy & Active Listening – Learn to hear beyond the words and tune into the emotions and needs hidden beneath them.

🔸  Recognizing Your Filters & Triggers – Understand how your past experiences, beliefs, and emotions shape your interpretations.

🔸  Curiosity Over Defensiveness – Shift from reacting to exploring what’s behind your emotional responses, fostering more compassionate communication

🧡 Reflect: Think of a time when your interpretation of someone’s words was shaped more by your past experiences than their actual intent. How might you have responded differently

🧡 Reflect: When you feel hurt by someone’s words, could there be an unmet need at the root of their expression? How might you respond with empathy rather than reacting from your own filters?