Cambridge Business Association
The Listening Shift
Book

The Listening Shift

Transform your organization by listening to your people and helping your people listen to you

Janie van Hool
Practical Inspiration Publishing, 2021
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Editorial Rating

8

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Leadership training emphasizes the importance of honing communication skills. But employees can’t perform at their best unless they feel that management receives and values their input, leadership coach Janie van Hool argues. When people feel heard and understood, collaboration and trust increase, which fosters stronger relationships and reduces fear of change and uncertainty. Her helpful guide offers practical tools for developing the skills and mindset of a “listening leader” – including self-awareness and empathy – and strategies for ensuring your words resonate with your intended audience.

Summary

Listening skills are an essential but often overlooked element of clear, effective communication.

Leaders must have excellent communication skills to bring out the best in their people. They must not only say the right things and ask the right questions but also listen fully to what others have to say. When you listen well to other people, you boost their potential, whether you communicate face-to-face or via a virtual platform. Listening well also reduces feelings of uncertainty, resistance to change and the spread of rumors. It humanizes leaders, increases engagement and promotes an environment of trust and collaboration, making your organization stronger and more competitive.

Although communication skills are a vital element of leadership development, people often overlook the art of listening well. Most managers receive no listening instruction, and educators tend to emphasize the spoken word’s role in communication. Another impediment to listening well is cognitive dissonance, a phenomenon that explains why people are reluctant to embrace information that contradicts their present beliefs or harms their...

About the Author

Communication coach and adviser Janie Van Hool is a former actor who now works with business leaders in a wide range of organizations. She also volunteers with the Samaritans, a UK nonprofit whose members offer an empathetic ear to people in distress.

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