The Silent Skill: Why Real Listening Starts With You

Guest:Oscar TrimboliAuthor, Speaker, and Host of the “Deep Listening” Podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/oscartrimboli/Host:Melissa AarskaugExecutive ConnectWebsite: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.comYouTube: @ExecutiveConnectEpisode Overview:Think you're a great listener? Think again. In this thought-provoking episode of Executive Connect, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Oscar Trimboli—author, speaker, and host of the award-winning Deep Listening podcast. With experience coaching over 1,500 organizations, Oscar challenges conventional leadership habits and reveals why most of us only catch 14% of what’s actually being said—and what that’s costing us. Through captivating stories, practical tools, and brain-based strategies, Oscar teaches leaders how to sharpen their listening skills, create psychological safety, and lead more effectively by what’s not being said. If you're ready to move from reactive to intentional communication, this conversation is your roadmap to impactful leadership.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: You Think You’re Listening?01:15 – Oscar’s Story: A Microsoft Meeting That Changed Everything03:25 – The 3 Levels of Deep Listening06:00 – "Three is Half of Eight": Why Perception Shapes Meaning08:00 – The Power of Silence and Two Magic Phrases11:00 – The Role of the Leader in Shaping Listening Culture14:15 – How to Make Meetings Truly Productive18:45 – Time-Boxing and Water: The Science of Showing Up Present23:00 – Embedding Deep Listening into Company Culture25:45 – Statements vs. Questions: The Trust-Building Ratio27:55 – The Four Listening Villains: Which One Are You?31:15 – Leading by Example: Put the Phone Away35:40 – Technology Addiction & Taking Back Control38:38 – Final Thought: The Real Meaning Lies in What’s Unsaid39:41 – Outro: Where to Go NextConnect With Us:Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect Social:Melissa Aarskaug on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissa_aarskaugX: https://x.com/melissaaarskaug