Listen In

Enjoy this inspiring conversation with author Laura Hargraves, an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist with an extensive background in the rehabilitation and healthcare field. Recently, her career has focused on public school settings, allowing her to observe how the need for listening skills has become even more critical. And more importantly, what we can do about it.   For kids, the way we deliver the message impacts how they listen and absorb what we say. In this episode, Laura shares examples of how cohesiveness of voice, facial expression, and body language are important factors to consider, if we want children to understand our message. By paying more attention to communicating with our whole selves, we can bring about change that leads to more understanding, clarity and connection with children. Teachers are also surprised about how they have more space and time to do what they love...teach. Laura share’s ideas for listening curriculum that can not only create magic, but give us more time to enjo

  Imagine what could be possible if we learned to listen first? Better flow, understanding and win-win solutions that transcend cultures, beliefs, and languages. Leaders can learn how to provide a safe space and trust for a challenging conversation, which allows for a more dynamic interaction among team members, empowering them to seek solutions themselves and become proactive rather than reactive.   Colin Smith, also known as The Listener, shares stories and gives practical tips as to how to listen with deep impact. He has an innate ability to listen to people deeply and hold space which enables people to open up and share their concerns, feelings, ideas, etc. His varied background, view of the world, and inquisitive and curious mind enable him to share unusual, thought-provoking, yet grounded observations and alternative approaches to business, people, systems, and change.    In this episode, Colin shows the many facets of how people are literally “dying” to be heard, and he shares how we can manifest a

  What does it mean to listen with your heart, not just your head? And how does this help us work at a deeper level with diversity, equity and inclusivity so that we can impact real change?  Dr. Teri Varner is an academic visionary with garnered experience in teaching, mentorship, and curriculum development to meet specific educational goals. A decorated educator with demonstrated expertise in communication theory, nonverbal communication, public speaking, and active listening.  She is an Associate Professor of Communication at St. Edward’s University (Austin, TX). She holds a Ph.D. in Communication with an emphasis in Performance Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Her ethnographic qualitative research interests range from women of color in American higher education to hair/body politics to increase the amount of classroom instruction devoted to teaching students how to actively listen in the 21st century. Dr. Varner is an active member of the National Communication Association (NCA) the Inte

  It doesn’t matter what background you have, or what type of job you do or the experiences you have, imagine what could be possible when you learn how to listen to your creativity? Robbie Bach, who is best known for founding and leading the team that created the Xbox did just this. And this process surprised him with his first novel, a thriller The Wilkes Insurrection, published in 2021.  Today he is an entertaining storyteller and catalyzing voice who writes books and speaks to audiences on leadership, creativity, strategy, and civic issues. During his twenty-two years at Microsoft, Robbie worked in various marketing and business management roles—including supporting the successful launch and expansion of Microsoft Office and leading the creation and development of the Xbox business.  Then as Microsoft’s President of the Entertainment and Devices Division, he was responsible for the company’s worldwide gaming, music, video, phone, and retail sales businesses until he retired in 2010. He currently chairs

Let’s span the globe with listening activities that focus on creating and strengthening connections. Listen to connect.  Mentioned Resource: 2021 IDL THEME: LISTEN TO CONNECT IDL 2021 will be held on September 16, 2021. Connect with Raquel: Website: https://listeningalchemy.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquel-ark-b2067613/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Listening-Alchemy-200172590449210/?ref=page_internal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/listening_alchemy 

  Too many interruptions are taking us away from what truly matters. We also see leaders afraid to listen. And this blocks the dynamics of listening, preventing a decision to trickle down to the lower echelons of the organization. Sense-making is a process that uses listening as a tool to foster learning that encompasses innovation, creativity, and transformation. It supports all voices being heard and leads to successful business outcomes while having positive societal impact and a sense of belonging. Dr. Gemma Jiang is the founding director of the Organizational Innovation Lab at the University of Pittsburgh. As a complexity leadership scholar and practitioner, Gemma is committed to bridging the "knowing-doing" gap by building capacity for addressing complex social challenges. She is involved in a diverse set of projects, including a National Science Foundation-funded convergence research project on circular economy and two Pittsburgh locally funded projects: the Pitt u.lab hub and the Adaptive Spa

  Have you ever noticed how rushing conversations and negotiations can create unnecessary misunderstandings?  Or even cause us to miss the point which can lead to critical business outcomes? How can you intentionally listen leading to more effective, innovative solutions? Feedback loops integrating asking, listening, connecting and developing are key towards successful negotiations and building strong business relationships.  With over 30 years of international business management experience, Juergen Scherer shares how he puts this into practice and how this has had a huge impact in the business world. He is a Business Consultant, Coach and Lecturer at BXB Exchange, and a Senior Executive & Member of Executive Committees. His experience ranges in many areas with a strong focus on Sales, Key Account Management, and Procurement / Supply Chain Management within Global FMCG, Chemical and Industrial Packaging Industries. In this episode, Juergen talks about reflective listening and how it is needed

  Listening unites and connects us. Taking time to stop and listen to others, despite culture, race, sexual orientation, views, can create a deep human connection even when we have strong differences of opinions.  The powerful transformation brought by listening is one of the simple changes the world never knew we actually needed. No limitations, no differences, just human connection and acceptance through listening. Juliana Tafur is the creator of Listen Courageously, award-winning filmmaker of “List(e)n”, board member of the International Listening Association, and former Discovery networks content executive. She is convinced that listening to stories has the ability to change us.  She has been on a listening journey since producing “List(e)n”, a documentary that brings together people on opposite ends of the spectrum to connect at a human level and transcend their differences.  She’s the CEO of Story Powerhouse, and via award-winning films creates safe spaces for employees at organizations and

  Consider a time when you spent a lot of time and resources with a group trying to solve a problem, and it seemed like nothing happened as a result. You didn’t feel valued and thought you wasted your time. You wouldn’t do that again. Annie brings clarity as to why this happens in the decision-making process and what the bigger story may be. She helps us consider our role of listening as a leader and how to move beyond checking off the listening box to instead be an effective leader, inspiring people to continue to be engaged in the work that matters. Annie Rappeport is a current International Education and Policy Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park and an Ann C. Wylie Dissertation Fellow for 2021. Her research focus areas are memory construction, peacebuilding and conflict transformation after conflict and natural disasters. In 2020,  Annie received the University of Maryland Outstanding Graduate Student Distinguished Service award for her two years of service as the Graduate

Being a leader in a Vuca (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) world is not easy and according to Susanne Marell, requires listening. And listening takes different forms. Listening to the market and customer trends, listening to my team needs, listening to individual needs and listening to feedback from my team, not to mention the questions that arise.   How can we listen in a way that gives us energy to think strategically and create success in a company, even through challenging mergers and acquisitions.   Susanne Marell is CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Germany. Before joining H+K she was Managing Director at JP KOM and prior to that she served as CEO of Edelman for six years, overseeing the acquisition and merger with ergo Kommunikation.   She started her career as a consultant with the agency Kohtes & Klewes (now Ketchum). In the following years, Marell worked for companies such as Schering, Hoechst and Aventis CropScience. As Head of Communications and Market Services, her respons

Have you ever paid attention to the assumptions we have in our conversations with different people?  Often when we’re listening to another person tell their story, we’re listening for the things that we want to hear rather than what the other person is trying to show us at that moment. This bias blocks our listening fully to the other person.  Lori Joubert takes us on a deep dive into the art of listening and how we can listen towards a better world of understanding. In this episode, Lori talks about her idea of what good listening is, the importance of being heard by people and equally hearing them and their stories. She also speaks about what is at stake if we don’t keep moving toward a listening culture. She explains how she practices being present and also shares insights on how you can become part of the solution – how you can practice listening as a powerful tool for people to experience in life.   Lori Joubert is a dedicated coach, facilitator, trainer, and Certified Listening Professional with over 20

  Imagine software that can be used to cultivate meaningful connections online. According to Lorenz Sell, this is possible by creating a container where small groups can deeply “listen” to each other, both sync and async. 95% of people who engage in online learning are likely to drop out. In this episode, Lorenz Sell shares how it is possible to create impactful learning experiences online through deep listening in ways that may surprise you and in turn gain 100% engagement.  He shares his story when he first recognized the importance of integrating listening into small groups, and how this inspires him when he writes code. He talks about his insights on the importance and effectiveness of tracking how you listen over time, and the unique force small groups bring in engaging individuals so that they experience a deep and genuine sense of connection.  Lorenz describes his entrepreneurial journey and how deep listening has played a role. Not only has he learned a lot about himself and his internal land

  Our busy minds can get in our way with connecting to ourselves and others. Often we blame it on all of the distractions around us. Yet, have you ever paid attention to your basic physical energy level and noticed that after a good night’s sleep you feel like your battery has been charged and you feel open again to the people around you? Understanding and experiencing the difference between listening to yourself, others and the bigger picture is the secret to leading through listening. In this episode, Victor focuses on leadership in listening. He explains seven levels of listening and and how to shift between listening to yourself, others and the bigger picture. He shares examples of how to get rid of the noise we all struggle with and tap into the silence needed for visioning while being responsive to the needs of those around us. His dream is for leadership in listening to impact at a larger scale in organizations, between countries or even helping to heal our humanity. Victor Pierau is an econom

  What does listening have to do with belonging? There is currently a lot of buzz around the cost to organizations when employees do not feel belonging. Yet it’s not just buzz. There is more and more research showing that when employees feel like they belong, organizations can reap bottom-line benefits.  In this episode, Sarah describes how listening is the practice of showing people that they belong, and is a key capacity needed to activate the value-creating all the buzz. She talks about the importance of recognizing that while it is the employers’ responsibility to shape belonging experiences, work cannot be the only focus. A leader can also foster a sense of belonging when they support individuals in their team discover belonging and identity outside of work. For example, having time and resources to spend time with friends, taking a class, joining a club or volunteering.  Sarah Judd Welch is the Principal & CEO of Sharehold, an innovation consultancy that designs and fosters belonging with

  How do we open up ourselves to possibilities, new ideas, and solutions?   In this episode, Jane shares the impact of generative listening. She speaks about how her life and relationships have deepened and have become more meaningful as she has learned and practiced this type of listening. She shares stories about how listening helps others to think for themselves independently, with courage, imagination, and grace. And how this has business impact. She highlights that when we listen in a generative way, we give people the opportunity to become better speakers, better thinkers, and better presenters; we articulate our message well because we know we aren’t judged and interrupted. She describes how organizations can integrate listening to create an environment of inclusion.   Jane Adshead-Grant has a purpose, which is listening. Listening to ignite the best thinking, ideas and solutions in others. In her executive coach and facilitator roles she supports individuals and teams develop person-centric leader

Everyone has had life and work experiences that we are afraid to share with others.  Yet keeping it inside can influence how we feel and impact our behaviors at work and at home. And we may not always fully understand our experiences and our behaviors. This episode is an amazing example of how listening can be healing and transformational even when people experience atrocities that are the toughest a human being can imagine. If listening sparks resilience as it does in this story, then it can spark resilience in all of us, every day, moment by moment.   Liliane Pari Umuhoza is a Rwandan public speaker, human rights advocate, and founder of the "Women Genocide Survivors Retreat" program – a program that acts as a support system for the women survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. She uses listening to create a transformative safe space for survivors to heal and improve life both psychologically and financially.  Liliane currently works for Foundation Rwanda as a project officer.    Through her

How do we listen to really know if we are speaking our truth in our daily grind? When do we know if we are using our authentic voice or if we are repeating repetitive, memorized scripts inside our own bubbles of agreement? Elissa shares stories and examples to help us become more connected to our own inner truth, both at work and at home. This helps our ability to problem solve and create new solutions so that we don’t get stuck in stress, fear, and a feeling of unsafety. She also shares her 4-step model to transform conversations from a cancel culture into a conversation culture as a way forward to truly stand up for what’s right with openness, acceptance, and love. Enjoy this conversation with Elissa. Understand listening beyond what we typically consider by listening to your body, getting curious and having a team mindset as a starting point to tough conversations. Elissa Weinzimmer is an award-winning vocal health educator, presence coach, and the founder of Voice Body Connection. After suddenly losing he

It’s hard to function from a place of care and collaboration when everyone is under pressure. The complexity of different perspectives, opinions, budgets, deliverables, and stresses create even more challenges.  In this episode, Samantha shares about horizontal leadership and how listening plays a key role, along with managing time. She shares stories about how understanding a human being’s complexities help you deal with challenges in the workspace; creating an environment with a collaborative spirit. She also underscores the importance of light protocols which create a structure where teams can work in FLOW and deepwork together. They allow productivity to happen by efficiently utilizing time with collective effort. She also gets clear on the idea that people don’t necessarily need sympathy, consolation, or commentary; oftentimes, they just want to be seen and heard.   Samantha Slade is a collective entrepreneur, author, and participatory strategist.  She believes that the social practices of togetherness a

Now is the time to start designing effective organizations of the future.  Are you ready to design your organization to be more empowered, innovative, and productive? What designs support organizational structures that create faster and effective decision-making processes, the kind that allows everyone the chance to speak up and be heard. Jodie Goulden is the Founder of Orgdesignworks a company that helps organizations to design and implement more effective ways of working. Jodie is formerly Head of Global Development & Learning at BASF with an overall 20 years of corporate experience at BASF, Lucent Technologies, and Deloitte. She had also worked in Germany, China, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, and held positions in Human Resources, Corporate Communications, and Change Consulting. She’s a Certified Organization Design Professional, a Board Member of Organisation Design Institute as well as a Board Member of Organization Design Forum.  In this episode, Jodie highlights how leadership can in

Each person can be unique in how they show up as a listener. Even if they are at the exact same meeting and listen to the exact same information, each person’s perspective may be different from the rest. This is normally frustrating, yet when we understand different types of listening, we can tap into the potential of cognitive diversity so that we can work smarter together. As a leader, teacher, or even a parent, you’ll love listening to Graham share his experience to support us to listen better in more ways than we normally consider. Learn how to understand people better, so they feel respected, valued and heard, leading to higher performance in organizations and at home.   Graham Bodie​ is an internationally recognized communication scholar whose work focuses on what all organizations and individuals need to do better, LISTEN.​ ​Based on his extensive knowledge of ​how individuals and teams can more effectively communicate and build consensus​, Dr. Bodie facilitates customized workshops and delivers compel