The Listening Project

the gift of listening in a world that won’t stop talking

There’s a popular saying that people don’t really pay attention to one another but are instead simply waiting for their own turn to speak. 

In our fast-paced, attention-deficient culture we seem to be losing the ability to simply and fully pay attention to one another. Listening is a gift that is often in short supply - that's what I want to change.

Something deeply satisfying emerges when someone is genuinely interested in and truly paying attention to what we have to say.

I started a 'FREE LISTENING' project as a result of experiencing the power of listening throughout my 20 years of coaching and working with people from all walks of life. I began to notice that when people were given the opportunity to articulate their ideas fully, felt understood, listened to, and appreciated for their independent thinking, they frequently shifted perspective and changed in a positive direction, becoming commonplace and even more effortless. 

Listening is simply a cooperative, friendly approach that encourages dialogue and independent thinking. It allows people to express themselves fully, explore deeply-held beliefs and assumptions, or explore and play with ideas. The results can be remarkable, from solving problems, gaining fresh insights on long-standing issues, or coming to a deeper understanding of a topic of their own choosing.

The larger goal of the Listening Project is to teach the world to pay attention and create a world where listening without interrupting becomes commonplace.

Through this project, I seek to encourage, demonstrate, and promote the generous gift of paying attention in the hope that recipients will ‘pass it on’.

Effective listeners show speakers that they have been heard and understood. Speakers will often experience a shift in their perspective through the process of organizing and articulating what's on their mind, and in many cases, original insights and fresh thinking emerge without effort. I offer several options to suit the needs of individuals, teams, and businesses. Including:

One-on-One Listening Sessions - book a session and think out loud about a problem or project with me as your listening partner.

Group Listening Sessions - a group-facilitated format designed to allow groups/teams to ‘think out loud’ together and address a common goal or topic.

‘Learn to Listen’ Workshops - want to become a better listener? Learn the key to allowing others to think independently and creatively for themselves. This one is great for managers or team leaders who want to improve their coaching skills and build high-performance teams.

When used effectively, attentive listening and simple probing questions create a way of respectful exploration and the generation of fresh thinking on old issues. The purpose is never to convince another of your own opinion, and you don't have to agree with someone to have a great conversation. Good listening can bring people closer together - even if they disagree on the discussed topic.

Get Involved

I imagine a world full of attentive listeners where respectful, cooperative dialogue is the norm. A world where people demonstrate and share the gift of listening with one another on a frequent basis that benefits both personal and professional lives and ultimately makes a positive contribution to the world.

If you're interested in any of this, need assistance in creating something amazing for yourself or your team, or just want to know how to improve your own listening skills, then please get in touch by clicking here.