Emptying Content: When things are clear as mud
Quick Answer: Emptying content is an active listening exercise: one person speaks without editing or censoring, and another listens without judgment and gives back exactly what was said. Like removing sand from a glass of mud, it clears the built-up thoughts that block clear thinking, so people listen better and work more effectively.
Why Things Get Clear as Mud
In every day interactions all people accumulate thoughts, experiences and pieces of information that gets in the way of performing effectively. These experiences, information and thoughts disrupt a clear thinking process, and, as a result, organizational performance.
How can you, as the business owner, implement systems to manage people effectively in unclear, chaotic environments?
Emptying Contents
The process of emptying contents is like removing sand particles from a glass of mud. Just like you cannot see through a glass of mud, contents will get in the way of a clear thinking process.
People have reported that after going through the process of emptying contents, they experience clarity, get more work done and work more effectively. They also experience being able to listen to other people and communicating clearly. People's experiences are heightened on a day to day basis, they feel connected with others and most experience joy and satisfaction.
So, you may be wondering...
How the Active Listening Exercise Works
It consists of one person speaking while another person actively listens. The speaker will speak without editing, censoring or prettifying what they are saying. They will say whatever they are experiencing. The listener should listen without judgment or opinion, and be able to give back the content of what is said without any additions or embellishments. It is simple, however, not easy. The listener must be trained to listen effectively, which takes practice, sometimes years of training.
If you remove the particles of sand from the glass of mud, eventually all that is left is a glass of clear water. The same is true for emptying content. And the person who has emptied all content can now "see" clearly, like looking through a glass of water versus looking through a glass of mud.
What would be possible for your organization if it was based around a culture that is able to remove the particles of mud and listen with no judgement?
- Thoughts, experiences and information pile up and cloud clear thinking, and organizational performance with it.
- Emptying content is like removing sand from a glass of mud until the water is clear.
- One person speaks without editing or censoring; the other listens without judgment and gives it back word for word.
- It is simple but not easy: listening this way takes practice, sometimes years of training.
- People who go through it report clarity, more work done and better communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is emptying content?
It is a process where one person speaks freely about whatever they are experiencing while another person listens without judgment, clearing away the thoughts and information that get in the way of thinking clearly.
What does the listener do in this exercise?
The listener listens without judgment or opinion and gives back the content of what was said, with no additions or embellishments. It takes training, and sometimes years of practice, to listen this way.
What results do people report?
People report clarity, getting more work done and working more effectively. They also listen to others and communicate more clearly, feel more connected and experience more joy and satisfaction.
Why should a business owner care about this?
Because the mud in people's heads disrupts clear thinking and, with it, how the whole organization performs. A culture that can clear it and listen without judgment works more effectively in chaotic environments.