Active Listening

Active Listening

“I wonder how many people I have heard in all my life and not listened to them”   John Steinbeck

Introduction

There is an irony in even talking about listening, after all, it is something we all do, right?  Most people would react to this by saying that there is nothing more they need to know. Yet, they would probably struggle to think of someone who listens to them very well.  Whilst it is recognised that being an active listener is crucial for building relationships and communicating effectively, research shows that 94% of us simply hear what others are saying and only 6% actively listen. We spend years learning to read, write and speak, yet little, if any, time is given to listening – our most used communication medium.  In a recent study by Korn Ferry, (a Global coaching company), developing ‘listening and empathy skills’ was either the first or second most sought after skill for coaching with CEOs, Senior Managers and Junior Managers.

Workshops

During any of these interactive workshops you will be invited to experience, maybe for your first time, active listening, being heard and thinking more clearly. These workshops will give you the awareness, understanding and tools you need to be able to be an active listener.

Benefits of participating fully in these workshops

In today’s fast paced world, active listening is vital and life changing.  Active listening and being heard is a starting point for:

• More meaningful relationships, as the first step towards developing trust.
• Building deeper connections with your clients and work colleagues.
• Better, more creative and original thinking, by having more time and space to do so.
• Increasing time, energy and money by incurring fewer mistakes and by getting it right first time.
• Improving your emotional wellbeing and feeling good about yourself.
• Feeling less stressed and pressured through being able to express yourself more easily and freely.
• Greater self-awareness, self esteem, confidence and presence.

One hour workshop – Introduction to Active Listening
Topics covered

• Are you an 18-second Manager?
• Listening or just hearing?
• Why is active listening so vital?
• How can you get better at active listening?
• Listening exercises are used throughout the workshop, based on audience requirements and context.
• Summary and questions.

Half day workshop – Going deeper with Active Listening
Topics covered

• What is listening?
• Are you listening or just hearing?
• Benefits of active listening
• Why is active listening so vital?
• When is listening most important?
• Dying to be heard
• What is the price of not listening?
• Every conversation matters, otherwise, why have them?
• Barriers to listening
• Why don’t we listen?
• What are we thinking when we are not listening?
• Listening hints and tips
• Why and how we hold space for another.
• Key skills of active listening
• Listening exercises are used throughout the workshop, based on audience requirements and context
• Summary and questions

Full day workshop – Thriving through Active Listening
Topics covered

• Introduction to Listening
• We all listen don’t we?
• Are you listening or just hearing?
• Types of listening
• Background to listening
• Benefits of listening
• The wider implications of listening.
• Where is listening most effective?
• Barriers to listening
• Disconnecting and not listening.
• Perils of multitasking
• How to listen badly?
• The ‘science’ and research
• The Drama Triangle versus the Empowered Triangle.
• Holding space
• The ideal conditions
• Being present
• Giving your full attention
• Tips for listening more actively
• Key skills of active listening
• Listening to your employees
• Appreciation, why it is so valuable
• Listening in the round
• Listening, thinking and creativity
• Do we have too much ‘group think’?
• Why we don’t think very well?
• Thinking more clearly for ourselves
• Benefits of original thinking
• Listening exercises and videos are used throughout the workshop, based on audience requirements and context
• Summary and questions

To book any of the above workshops, please get in touch with us to request available dates and chat to us about your individual requirements.

To read more on Why Listening Matters, just click here.

Presenter Colin D Smith

Colin D Smith is known as ‘The Listener'. He is one of the UK’s foremost listening skills specialists, working both with individuals, as well as for teams within organisations who want to be heard, think smarter, and transform their business and personal relationships through active listening. He has an innate ability to actively listen to people, enabling them to articulate their creative ideas, address their personal concerns, express their feelings more easily, and to achieve their personal, professional and life goals. Having had a varied and successful career in consultancy, business development, IT and customer support across many sectors, including finance, motor, retail and the NHS, in looking back he realised that much of his success was due to his listening and connecting abilities. This led him to develop a series of programmes to develop these skills in others, the importance of which organisations are now waking up to. His inquisitive and curious mind leads him to explore unusual, thought provoking, yet grounded observations and alternative approaches to business, people, systems, change and innovation.

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What’s included

Active Listening is available as a bespoke group event for a team as part of our revolutionary business programmes, or also available for individuals looking for a 1-1 session. Please contact us for more details.

Price

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