Select Page

Three Little Words for Better (Business) Relationships // ALD 008 — DT101 E79

Thank you for listening to this Ask Like a Designer episode of the Design Thinking 101 Podcast.

This episode is about the tremendous power in three little words and a superpower for people who want to think and solve like a designer: listening.

This episode is based on this article: ALD008 // Three Little Words for Better (Business) Relationships. Read the article and others like it on Fluid Hive’s Ask Like a Designer.

Photo of Dawan StanfordIn these short Ask Like a Designer episodes on the Design Thinking 101 podcast, you’ll find new ways to explore the show’s stories and ideas about design-driven innovation. I’ll share methods, templates, and ideas that have worked in my practice in teaching.

What did you think of this episode? Please send your questions, suggestions, and guest ideas to Dawan and the Fluid Hive team.

Cheers ~ Dawan
Design Thinking 101 Podcast Host
President, Fluid Hive

Show Highlights

[00:56] It is listening, not love, that is at the core of a strong relationship.
[01:16] The three little words: tell me more.
[01:47] Why “tell me more” is so powerful.
[01:56] “Tell me more” is better than “why.”
[02:36] The importance of good listening.
[02:50] There are many ways of using and phrasing “tell me more.”
[02:55] When someone stops talking.
[03:15] Parroting the other’s words.
[03:33] Parrot questions.
[03:51] Long silences can encourage someone to keep talking.
[04:14] Spotlighting the other’s silences.
[04:42] Noticing changes.
[05:07] Listening is different from interviewing, advising, or negotiating.
[05:25] When we listen, we learn.
[05:50] Designing an event means creating an environment for good listening.
[06:06] Listening is not passive
[06:12] Listening is fundamental to design.
[06:35] Free Ask Like a Designer tool to help you practice “tell me more” and in turn, become a better listener.

Design Thinking 101 Learning — Courses and More

Design Thinking 101 Learning helps people start seeing and solving like a designer. Each training course focuses on a different collection of actions and skills critical to using design thinking effectively and getting the results you seek.

Please join me in the first course, Design Thinking 101 — Framing: Creating Better Solutions by Finding More Valuable Problems to Solve.

Each course is structured to help your innovation actions create what you need for the people you serve, your organization and yourself.

Grab your spot and start thinking and solving like a designer today.

DT101 Episodes You Might Like

Ask Like a Designer — DT101 E61
Design, and One Question to Rule Them All // ALD 002 — DT101 E63
There Are No Problems Worth Solving — Only Questions Worth Asking // ALD 003 — DT101 E65
Your Good-Life OS: Designing a System for Living Well and Peak Performance // ALD 004 — DT101 E67
The Swiss-Army Lives of How-Might-We Questions // ALD 005 — DT 101 E69
Designing Facilitation: A System for Creating and Leading Exceptional Events // ALD 006 — DT101 E73
The Innovation Saboteur’s Handbook // ALD 007 — DT101 E77

Tell me how the show helps you.

Photo of Dawan Stanford

Your ideas support and develop the show. Tell the world how the Design Thinking 101 Podcast has helped you think and solve like a designer. Then, tell me how I might make it even more helpful.

Cheers ~ Dawan

Are you struggling to create great services or solutions?

Download Fluid Hive’s Innovation Shield, a step-by-step guide that helps make everything you create more valuable by asking simple questions.

Your Ask Like a Designer Studio

Your Ask Like a Designer Studio connects you with people interested in thinking and solving like a designer.

Enjoy invitations to free, live Studio events. Receive articles, Design Thinking 101 podcast updates, tips, tools, templates, workshop information, and more to help you create and perform!

Innovation Smart Start Webinar

Your next project could be easier, faster and more effective if you play smart at the start. In this webinar Dawan will teach you ways to ask like a designer so your projects succeed more often and your revenue grow.

rocket propelled cyber brain

The Designing Facilitation Course

Are you ready to design outstanding events that will engage participants and get the outcomes you need?

Fluid Hive's Designing Facilitation Course is a step-by-step design thinking-fueled system for creating and leading events, workshops and meetings that solve problems, save money, and protect your reputation.

Find Better Problems Course

In this self-paced, online course, Find Better Problems: Creating Better Solutions by Framing More Valuable Problems to Solve, you will learn to create more effective solutions by understanding the problem you are trying to solve.

Creating effective solutions begins with finding, defining and refining the problem you're trying to solve. I help you do that and more with step-by-step instruction and practical templates.