James Petersons book, Why Don’t We Listen Better? is a deeply pointed guide to a healthy and practical evolution of human thought concerning interpersonal communication. He uses technique after technique to bring home the many different facets that go into connecting or disconnecting with a person. He starts with the reader taking responsibility for our communication failures, being careful to point out that even though there may be truth to our communication styles being passed down from generation to generation, our forefathers are no more to blame than we are, considering that they too received a hand me down way of communication (Peterson, 2017). He points out that at the center of communication is a fundamental need to be heard, and the feelings that that accomplishment renders. Thusly effective connecting is missed by the overshadowing adolescent and stagnated listening techniques. The “listener” therefore only seeks to find another space to jump in and switch places again. …show more content…
Effective communication includes the ability to effectively move from “talker” to “listener”. The “Talker-Listener Card” (TLC), a method Peterson uses for healthy communication, requires one to pay attention to the role they play in difficult conversations (Peterson, 2017). TLC, a folded piece of paper labeled talker on one side and listener on the other, gives way for balance in tense situations thereby putting the stomach(feelings), heart(beliefs) and head(intellect) in alignment with each other avoiding Flat-Brain Syndrome. The TLC acts as an intercessor between the talker and the listener allowing each person to effectively switch roles. Once the talker stops, he then flips the card over to hold himself accountable to simply listening. Its intentional in its causation of deeper understanding between two