Bellevue residents looking to enhance their communication skills have a unique opportunity this fall. The city is launching a series of free "Art of Listening" workshops, in collaboration with the King County Library System. These interactive sessions are scheduled to take place on Tuesdays, from Sept. 24 to Oct. 15, between 6-8 p.m. at the Bellevue Library.

According to the City of Bellevue, the workshops will teach attendees how to better focus and stay present during conversations, thereby improving personal and professional relationships. Under the guidance of Marci McReynolds, co-manager of the Bellevue Conflict Resolution Center, participants will address common listening habits that hamper effective communication. One of the key lessons involves validating and connecting with others, which doesn't involve fixing their problems but "returning them to their own wisdom".

The Bellevue Conflict Resolution Center, with McReynolds at the helm, has long advocated the power of active listening in resolving disputes and building stronger community ties. "People also learn the value of silence in a conversation", McReynolds said, as per the City of Bellevue, reinforcing the idea that sometimes the unspoken holds as much weight as the spoken.