Morrison Cohen’s Women’s Initiative Network Hosts Skill-Building Workshops

Morrison Cohen’s Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) was proud to host the first of two skill-building workshops designed to deepen participants’ self-awareness and ability to listen actively and support their peers. Ami Watkin, of Watkin Consulting LLC, led the discussion. Ami is an executive coach, people strategist and former Morrison Cohen corporate lawyer.

This first workshop focused on active listening. In the workshop, attendees learned the difference between level one listening (where one listens for comprehension of content and such content’s relevance to him or her), and level two listening (where one listens with sharp focus is on the speaker with the goal of comprehending content and the speaker’s emotions and perspectives).

The 25 lawyers and staff in attendance gained invaluable insight into how they listen and how they are listened to. Jessica Lipson, who co-chairs WIN with Gayle Pollack, said, “By practicing level two listening skills – focusing all of our attention on the speaker, taking in the speaker’s feelings and perspectives without overlaying our own – we experienced a better sense of connection to the speaker, and a better ability to support one another.”

A second workshop is scheduled in February, where WIN members will learn to put their newfound level two listening skills to work in a peer coaching setting.