People talking without speaking. People hearing without listening

While I have loved Paul Simon’s “Sound of Silence” for many years, it is exactly one year ago since I received the first copies of “Leading the Listening Organisation” the book that I wrote with my brilliant co-authors Mike Pounsford and Dr Kevin Ruck .

What a wonderful journey we’ve been on since then.

The first chapter of the book is called “The Advent of the Listening Age”. I truly believe, 12 months on, this sentiment to be ‘on the money’. The interest in listening, the desire to talk about what listening means and to start figuring out how listening can become a fundamental part of how we operate as communicators has grown non-stop through the year.

And by real listening I mean listening where those asked for their input truly feel that their voice is worth something, that they’ve been listened to and those doing the listening understand the importance of responding appropriately.

In the year since publication, I’ve been lucky enough to talk to communicators, HR professionals and others across the globe. Whether from Australia to San Diego, from Copenhagen to Warsaw, and from Lancaster to London the interest is consistent, especially when you add these to the many podcasts, articles and of course client conversations that have taken place.

I predict that 2025 will be a year where listening becomes an even more important part of the mix. Leaders will increasingly appreciate how supporting better conversations with effective listening will help them deliver with their people rather than to their people and communications professionals will see how the value they deliver increases through supporting better listening.

Leading the Listening Organisation was the culmination of six year’s research. It examines why listening is important and deals with some of the main obstacles that get in the way. It takes a practical look at different listening methods while examining the leadership characteristics and mindsets required to create organisations that flourish.

The book will obviously make for a perfect Christmas present and publishers Routledge are offering a special 20% end of year discount.