Episode #34: Anne Hathaway – The Thinking Environment and the Power of Being Heard

In a world where the attention we give people lasts just 11 seconds on average, Anne Hathaway is a believer in the transformative power of listening and being heard.

She compares the experience of being truly heard to that of being loved, and this forms the heart of her work as a coach, supervisor and leadership developer, providing people with generative attention and spaces in which to heal and grow.

When Anne discovered Nancy Kline's work around the Thinking Environment, she saw her own life's work in that approach. For over 25 years they have worked together at Time To Think, where Anne is a member of the senior faculty. 

Our conversation tracks her remarkable life and career, from overcoming profound personal and professional challenges to becoming an inspirational and celebrated coach, mentor and change facilitator.

In this episode, we talk about:

Generative attention, and how to listen in order to ignite the thinking of the other person

How listening skills can be the key to conflict resolution

The fact that good ideas can come from anywhere, regardless of a person's status or position

How to empower people who don't trust their own inner wisdom

The importance of creating conditions of safety in which people can heal

Anne describes the impact of Time To Think and the Thinking Environment as "world shaking", and explains how our train of thought can lead us to new horizons.

She also opens up about her recent diagnosis for complex PTSD, and how that journey has inspired her to connect with and speak to the world in new ways.

For more information about Anne, visit https://annehathaway.co.uk/ or email her at anne@annehathaway.co.uk.

For information about Robbie’s wider work and writing, visit www.robbieswale.com, and to buy his book, click here.

Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

To support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community

Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):

- Robbie’s book, How to Start (a book, business or creative project) When You’re Stuck https://geni.us/startwhenyourestuck

- Stephanie Archer at Time To Think https://www.timetothink.com/stephanie-archer/

- Nancy Kline's book, Time To Think https://www.timetothink.com/books/time-to-think/

- The Thinking Environment https://www.timetothink.com/thinking-environment/

- European Foundation for Management Development https://www.efmdglobal.org/

- Joyce Matthews tweet about being heard https://twitter.com/JoyceMatthews_/status/1480468857445830657?s=20

- Thinking Partnership Programme courses https://www.thinkitthrough.co.uk/thinking-partnership-programme/

- David Rock and the NeuroLeadership Institute https://neuroleadership.com/personnel/david-rock/

- Hamish McRae https://www.independent.co.uk/author/hamish-mcrae

- The 10 Components https://www.timetothink.com/thinking-environment/the-ten-components/

- Dr Christopher Goscomb https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgoscomb/

- Time To Think collegiate days https://www.thethinkingproject.co.uk/professionaldevelopment/timetothinkcollegiatedays

- Linda Aspey https://www.timetothink.com/coach/linda-aspey/

- Alex Howard and The Optimum Health Clinic https://www.alexhoward.com/

- EMDR therapy https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing

- Jayne Rooke's blog post on domestic abuse statistics https://jaynerooke.co.uk/blog/2022/1/10/monday-musings-not-and-advent-blog

- Sarah Parrott's blog post on coercive and controlling behaviour https://epichr.co.uk/2021/12/27/adventblogs-you-do-matter-always/

- Art Giser and Energetic NLP https://energeticnlp.com/about-art-giser/

- David Trelevean https://davidtreleaven.com/

- Somatic experiencing therapy https://www.seauk.org.uk/

- Anne's website www.annehathaway.co.uk