Deep Listening

A fundamental trait of true genius.

Talent, insight, achievement, drive, and high IQ are the characteristics commonly used to define genius, and until very recently, I would have accepted these as complete. However, while in Japan I was fortunate to spend time with one of my super-mentors, Tadao Kikumoto-san, and have now added deep listening as a fundamental behavior of the truly genius among us.

Over the course of many hours with Kikumoto-san I witnessed him demonstrate deep listening, which usually started as a clear pause in conversation followed by a noticeable shift in his body language from “output” to a deeply focused “input” mode. Now while it will be argued that this is nothing special and many people model this behavior, it’s what came next that really made a strong impression on me.

Consistently during our discussions, after pausing, adjusting, and focusing, Kikumoto-san would acknowledge receipt and understanding of the new thought, usually by an emphatic nod or hand gesture, then he would start to consider. And often after others had already moved on to the next topic, Kikumoto-san would suddenly loop back and say something like “Paul is right about that” and immediately start to adjust his own thinking and story.

Truly remarkable for me was what felt like a complete absence of defensiveness or protection of his own ideas; through deep listening with humility, the only outcome Kikumoto-san seemed interested in was truth.

I should also note that what made these deep listening moments even more beautiful was the profound respect of silence that is cultural to Japan. With respectful silence practiced, it was not only easier to recognize shifts through the different stages of deep listening, but consideration was given room to breathe. Visitors to Japan often struggle with the cultural respect for silence, but over time I have come to fully embrace it’s beauty and value.

Talent, insight, achievement, drive, and high IQ are indeed hallmarks, but for me, it’s the ability to deeply (and humbly) listen that might be the single most valuable enabling trait of true genius.