EQuipt’s Tarrynn Deavens says “Slow Down!”

A Why Listening Matters feature by Alicia Ortega

The first thing you’ll notice about Tarrynn Deavens is her big smile and warm energy. As we begin our interview, she takes my first question and runs with it. Tarrynn, one of EQuipt executive coaches, explains that her journey with listening (and, by extension, EQuipt’s doorstep) began very early. 

“In the first 11 years of my life, I moved 12 times,” she starts, explaining that being the new kid wasn’t fun for her as a shy and introverted kid. Tarrynn turned to her mom for help, a “super extrovert” who emphasized that listening and asking questions would be a quick way to make new friends. Tarrynn soon found herself the playground peacemaker and confidante to her classmates. As a young adult, Tarrynn decided to formalize her role as she pursued a degree in psychology. 

After graduation, Tarrynn worked as an admissions counselor, then a corporate insurance job, putting her desire to help others on the backburner. During this time, she saw firsthand the way companies shortcut taking care of their employees and projects in the name of efficiency. It was draining. So Tarrynn made a change, moving to Philadelphia and bringing her coaching dream to life. Working at first with individuals, Tarrynn scaled up when she joined EQuipt’s team in 2020.

When I ask Tarrynn how she’s able to get companies to make major culture changes, she emphasizes a few points: Slow down, seek to understand, and don’t bypass the discrepancies. Tarrynn adds that she’s seen companies lose millions due to miscommunications that were the result of speeding through conversations, where the culture didn’t allow space for nuance. “You actually have to slow down to speed up,” she says, emphasizing that slowing down gives us the space to navigate conversations more rationally. 

As we keep speaking, Tarrynn continues to drop fabulous insights into approaching difficult conversations (Ask permission to critique!), how to tell a story that makes people want to listen (Tailor for the right audience!), and finding gaps in communication (Question where words and actions don’t align!). When our call draws to a close, I finally ask Tarrynn the big question: Why does listening matter?

“Listening matters because it’s the only way you can understand people, and the only way others will ever be able to understand you.” Well said, Tarrynn!

Why Listening Matters is a new profile feature for EQuipt’s monthly newsletter, where we dive into our subjects’ lives and discover the impact listening has had on them in both their personal and professional lives.