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Are You Listening to Connect or Just to Respond? with Jenni Cole
Jenni Cole, Mental Health First Aid Instructor and wellbeing trainer, joins Eileen to explore the art of helpful communication in leadership. With a background in education and psychology, Jenni specialises in helping leaders move beyond transactional conversations to build genuine psychological safety.
In this episode, Jenni reveals why so much workplace communication becomes purely goal-driven and how leaders can shift their focus to building trust and connection. She unpacks the crucial difference between listening to respond versus listening to connect, sharing how thoughtful communication can transform organisational change from a source of fear into an opportunity for growth.
Jenni identifies common unhelpful phrases leaders use with good intentions - from the dismissive 'don't worry about that' to the disempowering 'I'll fix it' - and offers practical alternatives. She explains the 80/20 rule of communication, where body language and tone matter more than words, and provides actionable techniques for creating psychological safety proactively rather than reactively.
The conversation covers empathy as a leadership tool, the importance of validating emotions, and how small pauses can transform workplace relationships. This episode is essential listening for any leader who wants to understand the profound impact of their communication style on team wellbeing and performance.
Key Insights:
Listen to connect, not to respond
80% of communication is what you do, not what you say
Psychological safety must be built proactively
Empathy is about connection, not having shared experiences
Small communication changes create lasting cultural transformation
Connect with Jenni Cole
Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Wellbeing and Parenting Trainer and Facilitator LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennicolemrt/
Connect with Eileen
Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: @eileendonnelly Website: www.rippleandco.com
🎧Listen to the full podcast:
🍎 Apple Podcast 🎵 Spotify 📺YouTube
Subscribe to the Work and Wellbeing Podcast for more evidence-based workplace wellbeing insights.
View all episodes
By Worth A Listen ProductionsJenni Cole, Mental Health First Aid Instructor and wellbeing trainer, joins Eileen to explore the art of helpful communication in leadership. With a background in education and psychology, Jenni specialises in helping leaders move beyond transactional conversations to build genuine psychological safety.
In this episode, Jenni reveals why so much workplace communication becomes purely goal-driven and how leaders can shift their focus to building trust and connection. She unpacks the crucial difference between listening to respond versus listening to connect, sharing how thoughtful communication can transform organisational change from a source of fear into an opportunity for growth.
Jenni identifies common unhelpful phrases leaders use with good intentions - from the dismissive 'don't worry about that' to the disempowering 'I'll fix it' - and offers practical alternatives. She explains the 80/20 rule of communication, where body language and tone matter more than words, and provides actionable techniques for creating psychological safety proactively rather than reactively.
The conversation covers empathy as a leadership tool, the importance of validating emotions, and how small pauses can transform workplace relationships. This episode is essential listening for any leader who wants to understand the profound impact of their communication style on team wellbeing and performance.
Key Insights:
Listen to connect, not to respond
80% of communication is what you do, not what you say
Psychological safety must be built proactively
Empathy is about connection, not having shared experiences
Small communication changes create lasting cultural transformation
Connect with Jenni Cole
Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Wellbeing and Parenting Trainer and Facilitator LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennicolemrt/
Connect with Eileen
Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: @eileendonnelly Website: www.rippleandco.com
🎧Listen to the full podcast:
🍎 Apple Podcast 🎵 Spotify 📺YouTube
Subscribe to the Work and Wellbeing Podcast for more evidence-based workplace wellbeing insights.