Behind the Mic

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There are some conversations you walk away from…and you just know…this one is going to stay with you.

This was one of those.

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When I sat down with Christine Miles, a pioneer in listening intelligence…I thought we were going to talk about communication.

Listening.
Understanding.

But what stayed with me was something much deeper.

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At one point, she said something that stopped me:

we’re not reacting to what’s said…we’re reacting to what we think it means.

And I just sat with that for a minute.

Because I immediately thought back to my own story this week…that moment on the help desk…where a “foot pedal” was actually a mouse. You can read it here: newsletter.authorpjhamilton.com 

Same words.

Completely different meanings.

And neither of us realized it at first.

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But what really hit me…was how often that happens in real life.

Not funny moments.

Real ones.

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I actually caught myself doing it later that same day.

Someone said something simple…and I immediately filled in the gap.

I didn’t ask.
I didn’t clarify.

I just…decided what it meant.

And I realized…that’s the moment I usually miss.

Not the reaction.

The meaning I assign before it.

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That’s what made this conversation so powerful.

Because Christine doesn’t just talk about listening…she shows you where it breaks down.

And how quickly it happens.

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One of the biggest takeaways for me was this:

Instead of saying, “I understand…”

Try this:

“Wait, this is what I’m hearing…”

That small shift slows everything down. It creates space. And in that space…you actually have a chance to choose differently.

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And if you’re someone who speaks…leads…or has conversations that matter…this is everything. Because it’s not just about what you say.

It’s about what people hear.

And that gap?

that’s where connection is either built… or lost.

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But what made this week even more powerful for me…was the second conversation.

Because while Christine brought clarity…this one brought something different.

recognition.

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When I sat down with Michele Phillips…the conversation wasn’t about what someone else said.

It was about something many of us feel…but don’t always have words for.

Why does everything look fine… but still feel off?

And that hit in a completely different way. Because this isn’t about miscommunication with someone else.

It’s about misalignment within yourself.

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Doing everything right…checking all the boxes…showing up…but something underneath just doesn’t feel fully aligned.

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And that’s where this week really comes together.

Christine helps you see the gap
👉 between what’s said and what it means

Michele helps you feel the gap
👉 between how things look and how they actually feel

Christine Miles – Listening & Meaning

Michele Phillips – Why You Still Feel Off

Your Weekly Reset

Real change doesn’t happen from hearing something once.

It happens through repetition.

→ Tuesday: the story
→ Wednesday: the pause
→ Thursday: the conversation

And every time you come back to it…you build a little more awareness.

A little more clarity.

A little more choice.

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