Birthing a book is a long and arduous process! There are multiple moments of self-doubt, trepidation and questioning. 
My goal in writing the book was to be helpful, and to be of service however possible.
 
My father, who recently passed, was very involved in the local Rotary Club in Pennsylvania, and they always recited the four-way test at every meeting:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
 
To me this always resonated with the lesson I taught in Improv; Always make your scene partner look good. It’s not about an internal focus; it is about serving those around you. 
 
The goal of the book is to be of service. If someone found some small thing, anything, then I am happy.
I am extremely delighted when my friend and colleague Nancy Bacon wrote a great blog post about my book. Check it out!
https://nancybacon.com/listening/
 
And I received so many great statements from early readers – it was overwhelming!
“Listening is about being truthfully present - not only with others, but with ourselves. This is the gift Andrew so skillfully and thought-provokingly unwraps in this book.”
“Andrew hits a home run with this fun and practical guide to improving the quality of your relationships at home and at work through the power of deep listening.”
 
I wrote this in the intro: 
Please tell me what you find out about your own listening
style! The more I get to hear your experiences and stories,
the more I get to learn about how the lessons and exercises
work for you. Please share your experiences!
Talk to me. I’ll listen.
 
I am serious. I want to know. If for no other reason, than to know I wasn’t operating in a void. 
 
Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.

The Ariel Group published an article about my book Listening without Agenda.

The Ariel Group develops powerful and authentic communication skills to drive better performance for leaders and their teams. They are an amazing training and coaching company I have worked with for a number of years.

Snippits from the article:
As you listen, your brain is constantly jumping to conclusions based on what you think you know rather than what’s being said. Andrew explains, “your medial prefrontal cortex [the right side of the brain] is always aware–listening, watching, seeing, smelling. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [the left side of the brain] works on categorizing all this data from the right side against what we already know.”

 - Once you begin categorizing, you stop listening.

Unless you’re concentrating on listening, the categorizing part of your brain takes over and creates a narrative for you based on what you’re hearing–often a narrative that is different from what the other person is saying. Stay present by actively listening and resisting the urge to categorize or extrapolate meaning.

Read it all here! https://www.arielgroup.com/how-to-be-a-better-listener/

Conscious businesses are built on intentional leadership—and one of the most powerful (and often overlooked) skills is deep listening.

Real listening isn’t just waiting for your turn to talk. It’s tuning in beyond the words, picking up on what’s not being said, and responding with awareness.

Let’s say a leader notices a normally reliable team member seems off. Instead of assuming or brushing it aside, they check in. Through a real conversation, they learn the employee is dealing with a personal health issue and struggling to keep up. Because the leader listened—really listened—they can adjust the workflow, rally support, and keep the project on track before things spiral.

Want to build this into your leadership training? Try this:
🔹 Ask yourself, “What did you hear?”
🔹 Then go further, “What wasn’t said?”

Deep listening saves time, energy, and resources while strengthening trust. It’s a game-changer.

Are you ready to level up your lsitening skills and leadership presence? Let’s connect. Contact 

​#ImprovMindset
#ListenwithoutAgenda
#Leadership #DeepListening 

What’s the Most Impactful Thing You Learned in 2024?

According to a recent HBR article, many leaders name the importance of thoughtful listening and fostering strong, supportive relationships.

How do you do that?

Read my book!  https://a.co/d/2riJ5Vf
#ListenwithoutAgenda
​
Available NOW at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop.org and anywhere else!

My new book ‘Listening without Agenda’ is now available for pre-sale!

I have been working with Manuscripts Publishing for the last 6 months, and the revisions editor just handed me A PILE of notes. To provide more context and understanding of the exercises contained in my book, I am adding even more personal stories and anecdotes from my life and experiences to help tell this story. 

To say this has been a whirlwind process is an understatement. It has been both extremely satisfying and horrifyingly scary. And there is the underlying fear of ‘what if people just don’t care?’ It feels highly vulnerable to be sharing my life’s work with all of you. However, I know this is part of the process. 

Let’s see how it resonates.

I will be releasing the Introduction and some early chapters soon to get feedback. Please tell me if you would like to be a part of the group to help me shape this beast.
SIGN UP HERE - andrew-mcmasters.presale.manuscripts.com/registration/select

​There's a Starbucks on I-5 headed south out of Seattle, near Dupont. It's our go-to spot for a quick coffee on road trips. Our dog can sense it too - as soon as we're within ten miles of Dupont, he starts shaking and drooling in anticipation of his pup cup. It's uncanny how he knows we're close to Dupont, almost like a sixth sense.

But the truth is, it's just a learned response from repeated patterns. Despite being a rescue dog initially scared of car rides, he now associates them with the joy of a pup cup. 
​
It serves as a reminder to pay attention to the habits we've formed and how they impact us, whether positively or negatively. Developing new habits is simply a matter of consistent practice.

Perhaps the positive reinforcement of a pup cup can be the key to solidifying a new routine.