Practice Protective Listening

What, exactly, is a fort? And why a listening fort?

According to the OED (first 2 definitions only), a fort is:

1.

a.  Mil. A fortified place; a position fortified for defensive or protective purposes, usually surrounded with a ditch, rampart, and parapet, and garrisoned with troops; a fortress.

b.  fig. A strong position, stronghold. Phr.  to hold the fort : to act as a temporary substitute; also, to remain at one's post, to maintain one's position, to ‘cope’.

c. In British North America and parts of the U.S.: A trading station (originally fortified).

2.

a. The place of security (of a wild animal).

A fort is a place of security, improvisation, defense, but most of all--PROTECTION.

To build a listening fort, you must PRACTICE PROTECTIVE LISTENING. This means creating a "place of security" (often an improvisational one) where ideas can be traded, positions can be "maintained," feelings and thoughts can be "coped" with. 

As I am considering the elements of my Listening Fort Experiment, I continue to think about the way safe spaces and comfortable places help us feel secure and protected. The way the turn of a chair or a comfy pillow or a well-timed look away can save our dignity and let us tell a story that would otherwise be impossible to tell.

When we learn how to Practice Protective Listening--how to provide others with the space and safety they need in conversation they need to feel secure--we fortify our connections and create strong positions of authentic sharing.