Drawing as a Form of Active Listening
Conversations often feel like races to speak, don't they? Where everyone is primed to respond before the other person has finished their sentence. Sometimes it can feel like true listening has become a rare skill.
Earlier this year, Jude Montague invited me to do a Q&A for Hastings Online Times, where I briefly touched on this topic. Since then, I’ve been inspired to write a full piece about it. As a graphic recorder, live illustrator, live scribe etc. I link active listening and drawing in my practice. Read on for my musings…
The Difference Between Listening to Reply and Listening to Hear
Many of us listen with the intent to reply. Whilst the other person’s talking, we’re formulating our next point, thinking of how to counter an argument, or preparing a response that might impress. Let’s not beat around the bush, in the past I’ve fallen into this trap more times than I’d like to admit.
But when you listen with the sole purpose of hearing, the entire dynamic shifts.
Listening becomes immersive. It’s not passive; it’s deeply active. It’s about creating space for the speaker, validating their thoughts, and letting them know they are seen and heard. Also can we just normalise silence and taking a breather please!
Drawing as a Form of Active Listening
Sketching during a conversation allows me to engage with the material on a deeper level. It’s a way of saying, “I’m here. I’m with you. I understand.”
It’s a reaffirmation that what’s being communicated is valuable. The sketches become a mirror, reflecting back the ideas and sentiments of the moment, validating the speaker’s voice.
The State of Flow: When Listening and Drawing Converge
There’s something almost meditative about this process. When I’m actively listening and drawing, everything else falls away. I’m fully present, fully engaged. It’s a luxury to listen so deeply and a privilege to draw what I’m hearing. I often find myself in a state of flow. A sweet spot where time slips away, and I’m simply there, capturing the essence of the moment.
This ‘flow’ state is a unique blend of cognitive, emotional, and creative engagement which you can read more about in the work of psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi who first coined the term.
Creating Space for You to Listen
When I step into a meeting or presentation with my digital sketchpad or pull up a chair at your table to capture the conversation and flow of ideas, I free you up to fully engage. No one needs to worry about taking notes or keep track of every point. My role becomes one of capturing the experience so others can simply be present.
Allowing me to sketch gives everyone space to pause, listen, and focus. My drawings become a visual record of the conversations. It’s a way to capture and revisit details that might otherwise slip by.
The Privilege of Drawing What is Heard
It’s a profound experience to be entrusted with someone’s words and to have the opportunity to reflect them back in a new form. It feels like a privilege to draw what I hear, to witness the ideas that emerge in real-time, and to create something tangible that serves as a legacy.
So next time you find yourself in a conversation, consider what it feels like to truly listen. Resist the urge to plan your response or to impress, but to hear, to validate and maybe even to draw.
How do you feel when you truly listen? What do you hear when you let yourself be fully present?
Learn more about my live illustration and graphic recording services here and contact me today if you would like some powerful visuals for your next event!
