Hey, it’s Rafic. 

Welcome back to this week’s edition of Peak Performance Insider.

Ever had someone really listen to you?

Not interrupt.
Not rush to give advice.
Just… be there, fully present.

It doesn’t happen often.
But when it does, you remember it.

In a world that’s noisy, fast, and full of pressure, listening is rare.
And that’s what makes it powerful.

The best leaders I know aren’t the loudest.
They’re the ones people trust to hold space.
To stay curious.
To hear what’s not being said.

This week, we’re slowing down to explore the skill that transforms how you lead, how you connect, and how people experience you.

📌 Today’s Agenda

✅ Why most people aren’t actually listening
✅ The top resources to upgrade how you lead through listening
✅ The Listening Pyramid (and how to level up)
✅ The small shift that changed everything for me as a coach and leader

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🔗 Best Links - My Favorite Finds

🧠 Personal Growth & Mindset
🔹 Tom Chi on Interconnectedness
Reminds us that listening starts with recognizing our shared humanity and the invisible connections between us.

👥 Leadership & Influence
🔹 How Leaders Can Be Transparent About Their Beliefs
Shows how transparent values, shared with presence and care, build trust, not alienation.

📈 Productivity & Habits
🔹 How to Build a Culture of Focus in a Distracted World
Deep listening and sustained attention thrive in low-distraction environments. This article shares practical steps to build that kind of culture.

💪 Health & Wellness
🔹 The Body Part F1 Drivers Train Most Might Surprise You
It turns out, elite drivers train their necks for extreme focus and resilience under pressure, teaching us a lesson: a calm, steady nervous system supports deeper listening.

✍️ Deep Dive: The Listening Skill That Changes Everything

When I first became a coach, I thought my value came from helping people find the right answer.

But I was wrong.

Because as a coach, I don’t give answers.
I create the space for your answers to emerge.

And the biggest shift came when I stopped rushing to say something smart
and started trusting the silence.

That’s when everything changed.

You already have the blueprint for better conversations:
Two ears. One mouth. Use them in that ratio.

When people feel heard, they open up.
When they open up, they get clear.
And clarity leads to action.

It’s not just true in coaching.
It’s true in leadership. In feedback. In conflict.
Even in how we listen to ourselves.

🎧 The Listening Pyramid

🟥 Level 1: Listening to Respond
You’re hearing the words, but your mind is prepping a reply. You have your next words on the tip of your tongue.
You’re reacting. Most people stay here.

🟧 Level 2: Listening to Understand
You reflect. You pause. You ask follow-ups.
There’s presence, but still a slight attachment to outcome.

🟩 Level 3: Listening to Transform
You hold space.
You catch tone, tension, silence, not just words.
You allow room for real thought to emerge.

Most leaders want to be effective communicators.
But the secret isn’t in speaking better.
It’s in hearing deeper.

🛠 How to Listen Better (Starting Today)

✅ Ask one more follow-up question.
Not to pry, but to clarify. Stay curious longer.

✅ Summarize what you heard.
Use your own words. “So what I’m hearing is…” goes a long way.

✅ Pause before you respond.
Even 3 seconds of silence gives someone room to think.

✅ Notice body language and tone.
Often, the real message isn’t in the sentence, it’s in the delivery.

✅ Let silence do the heavy lifting.
Don’t rush to fill it. Let people find their own clarity.

⚡️ Work With Me

If your world feels too loud to truly listen,
If your team is talking but not connecting,
If you’re reacting more than leading…

Then this is your signal to pause.

In 1:1 coaching, I help leaders like you:

• Listen more deeply, to others and to themselves

• Lead with presence, not pressure

• Build clarity, trust, and performance from the inside out

I’m opening 1 new coaching spot for August.

📅 If it feels like the right time, reply to this email, DM me or Book a 1:1 strategy session here.

🎯 That's a Wrap

We overestimate the value of speaking.
And underestimate the impact of listening.

So this week, listen without interrupting.
Pause before you solve.
Get comfortable with silence.

Because sometimes, the most powerful thing you can offer someone... 

...is your attention.

See you next Monday,

— Rafic Osseiran

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