What if listening could create change?
Listening Works
An initiative focused on developing leaders and responsive organizations.
Based out of Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business
Listening is an untapped natural resource. Without listening, there is no perspective. Without listening, leaders work alone. It is a valued leadership skill at every level. It is also one of the most difficult skills to master. People struggle to listen where it is needed the most. This is the Listening Paradox*.
*Yip, J. & Fisher, C.M. (2022) Listening in Organizations: A synthesis and future agenda. Academy of Management Annals. https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/annals.2020.0367
Action Listening - a process to build your capacity for listening
Action Listening is a process of listening and enabling actions for positive change. At the heart of this process is the Listening CODE - an approach to deeper and purposeful conversations that connects listening with actions for change.
Action Listening can be used to
Better understand a sticky issue or challenge
To receive feedback and feedforward insights
Figure out ways to grow within the organization
It combines aspects of
Listening
Design Thinking
Rounding for Outcomes
How can I be more effective in my current role?
How can I provide support for my team and myself through the transition to new leadership?
How can I create change in my company towards more environmentally sustainable practices?
How can we work more effectively across silos and functions in our organization?
How can we do better in developing leaders in our organization?
How can we make employees feel safe coming into the workplace?
How can we develop a remote workforce strategy?
How can I be a better ally and advocate for BIPOC staff?
How can I develop a high performing team?
How can I be a more effective communicator and public speaker?
What have others used the playbook for?
The Action Listening Playbook
We have developed the Action Listening Playbook (and a fill-able workbook) to help leaders like you to listen better, build relationships, and respond to change. The process laid out in this playbook will help guide your response to change and address a challenge worth facing in your organization, community, or in your own development as a leader. This playbook will help you identify a challenge, build trust with stakeholders, gain perspective, and take action.