Listening is more than 'switching on your ears'

When was the last time you truly listened to someone at work? I mean, really listened, with your full attention?

In this episode of Culture and Coffee we dive deep into the art of listening—something that's often overlooked but is absolutely vital for a thriving workplace culture.

In this episode, I cover:

👂 The Lost Art of Listening: Did you know that a staggering 98% of us haven't been taught how to effectively listen? I explore how to listen not just to respond, but to truly understand.

💡 Empathy vs. Sympathy: Ever wondered what the real difference is? I'll break it down for you and show you why empathy is the secret ingredient to building rock-solid relationships and collaboration within your team.

🤝 Active Empathetic Listening: 'll guide you through the three crucial stages—sensing, processing, and responding—to help you master this skill.

🗣️ Feedback Finesse: Learn how to give feedback that's actually helpful by listening actively.

👀 Non-Verbal Cues: They say actions speak louder than words, and in the realm of listening, that's gold. I'll show you how to read between the lines and respond with care.

🧠 The Science of Listening: Our brains are speedy, but sometimes we need to slow down the info flow to really hear what's being said. I'll share some tips on how to do just that, even in our fast-paced world.

🛠️ Practical Tips for Everyday Listening: From making eye contact to ditching distractions, these are simple yet effective ways to enhance your listening skills.

Useful links 🔗

Connect with Colin on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Download ⁠⁠⁠the Culture Whitepapers for managers and senior executives

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🎙️ Check out ⁠Inside Out Culture Podcast⁠ where myself and Cath Bishop get behind the headlines of cultures making the news to extract the learnings and insights, good and bad.

TIMESTAMPS

Introduction (00:00:01)

Colin introduces the topic of listening and shares his interest in understanding workplace culture.

Understanding Human Endeavours (00:01:22)

Colin discusses the human nature of workplace cultures and the impact of upbringing and skills on how people work together.

Case Study on UK Police (00:02:29)

Colin shares insights from a review of the UK police culture, highlighting defensive behaviour of senior managers and the lack of humility.

Lack of Listening Skills (00:04:48)

Colin discusses the decline in listening skills and the tendency for people to listen to respond rather than understand.

Family Time vs Work Time (00:06:00)

Colin compares the time spent listening in family settings versus work environments and emphasises the need for conscious listening.

Empathy vs Sympathy (00:08:19)

Colin explains the difference between empathy and sympathy in listening, using examples of how they manifest in workplace interactions.

Building Empathy for Collaboration (00:10:21)

Colin emphasises the importance of empathy in building strong relationships and effective collaboration within teams.

Key Behaviour: Listening Respectfully (00:11:28)

Colin discusses the significance of respectful and attentive listening as a key behaviour for success in workplace culture.

Enhancing Feedback Skills (00:11:28)

Colin explains how improved listening skills enhance the ability to give effective feedback within a team.

Respectful Listening Habits (00:14:24)

Colin shares personal habits developed to improve respectful listening, including avoiding talking over others and recognising when no response is needed.

Active Empathetic Listening (00:16:22)

Colin introduces the concept of active empathetic listening and its three stages: sensing, processing, and responding.

Listening as a Demonstration of Empathy (00:18:15)

Colin emphasises listening as a demonstration of empathy, strengthening relationships and improving teamwork within organisations.

Sensing and Processing (00:20:41)

Colin discusses the importance of sensing and processing information before responding and the need for time to process.

Giving Time to Process (00:21:46)

Colin emphasises the need to give people time to process before responding, especially in non-crisis situations.

Manager's Role and Listening (00:22:37)

Colin highlights the evolving role of managers and the need for active listening to inspire and motivate teams.

Slowing Information Flow (00:23:32)

Colin explains the importance of slowing down the information flow and summarising the process of sensing, processing, and responding.

Eliminating Distractions (00:24:38)

Colin advises on eliminating distractions, providing feedback, and approaching interactions with an open mind.