In today’s episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Stan Slovin, author, lawyer, financial advisor, and a respected pillar of the Northbrook community, to explore one of the most overlooked skills in leadership and life: listening.

As the author of Better Listening: The Secret to Improving Both Your Professional and Personal Life, Stan shares the experiences and observations that shaped his mission to help people listen not to respond, but to genuinely understand. He breaks down why listening is the heart of responsible leadership, how empathy changes the tone of every conversation, and the simple habits anyone can start using today to foster deeper trust, connection, and clarity.

 In this conversation, Stan shares:

• Why so many leaders “listen to respond” instead of listening to understand

• How empathy, pause, and presence transform professional AND personal relationships

• Practical tools to improve communication including reflection, clarification, and intentional pauses

• Why better listeners build stronger teams, retain talent, and create healthier cultures

• The ripple effect of compassionate, non-judgmental listening in a divided world

Stan also shares powerful stories from boardrooms to kitchen tables that show just how deeply listening impacts the people who matter most.

If you want to improve your influence, deepen your relationships, and communicate with more purpose, this episode is full of insights you can put into practice today.

 Tune in and let this conversation inspire you to listen not to reply, but to truly understand.

Connect with Stan: https://www.betterlisteningbook.com/

Buy his book: https://a.co/d/1DWCxHU