Most leaders think they’re listening (me included).

We are actually just waiting to reassure.

In our book Bytes and Breaths - The VitaSphere Quest (read more at https://bytesnbreaths.com), Zara’s AI coach Aria catches her doing exactly this.

When a team member says “I don’t think we’ll be ready in time,” Zara immediately responds: “We’ve got this under control. Just focus on your tasks.”

Aria pauses the simulation. “You missed an opportunity to actually listen.”

Zara tries again, this time with one simple shift: she asks a question instead of providing an answer.
“Can you tell me more about your concerns?”

What follows is the real issue: QA was being rushed, and quality was at risk. A problem that reassurance would have buried.

Active listening isn’t about staying quiet.

Think its about asking what you don’t already know.

— From Bytes and Breaths: The VitaSphere Quest, co-authored with Neha Taneja A leadership parable at the intersection of AI, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness. Get it here https://amzn.in/d/a5a2JYD