Explore the benefits of silent listening by using a “talking stick.” Richard Hyde (1993) developed this exercise from the Native American tradition of “council.” Gather a group of people in a circle, and designate a particular item as the talking stick. Participants will then pass the stick around the circle. Participants may speak

a. only when holding the stick;

b. for as long as they hold the stick; and

c. without interruption from anyone else in the circle.

When a member is through speaking, the stick passes to the left and the speaker surrendering the stick must wait until it has made its way around the circle before speaking again.

After each member of the group has had the chance to speak, discuss how this experience differs from more common approaches to listening. Decide how the desirable parts of this method could be introduced in everyday conversations.