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ICF Core Competency 6: Listens Actively

Updated: Oct 23

An elephant standing with its ears fully spread, symbolizing deep, attentive listening.
Listening: The secret superpower of great coaches—and elephants.

Ever notice how elephants have the biggest ears in the animal kingdom? That’s because great listening is their superpower—and in coaching, it should be yours too. That’s the essence of ICF Core Competency 6: Listens Actively.

Active listening isn’t just about hearing words. It’s about tuning in so deeply that you catch what’s not being said—those subtle shifts in tone, the hesitation before a word, the energy in the silence. It means listening with your whole self, catching the emotional undertow beneath your client’s words, and holding space for breakthroughs to happen.

Coaches who master this skill don’t just gather information—they sense what matters. They hear the longings between the lines and shine a light on unspoken truths. Active listening builds trust, sparks insight, and helps clients move from stuck to unstuck in ways that feel almost magical.

Let’s explore this essential coaching skill and listen to how it plays out in practice. 🐘

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