Clarity in Conversations

You think you’re a good listener? There’s a high chance you answered this question with some form of ‘Yes’. We all think we are good listeners. A study among 8.000 American professionals revealed that almost everybody thinks their listening skills are better-than-average. Sure.

In this episode, my guest is Laura Janusik. Laura (Ph.D., M.B.A, CLP) is professor of communication at Rockhurst University, Kansas, Missouri. She works as a trainer, researcher, speaker and business consultant. Laura also used to be chair of the International Listening Association and has published a lot of research and insights internationally. She is a certified listening professional since 2010, and researches all topics related to listening skills in various contexts. Her motto is: “Helping the World to Listen: One Person at a Time...!”.

In my interview with Laura, we speak about listening skills. And then discover that listening not so much relies on ‘skills’, but that listening is more of a strategy. Something you set out and choose to do deliberately, rather than something you’re just good at or not. So, you may be a very skillful listener, yet hardly ever decide to deliberately use the skill in daily work. Recognise this?

Laura goes into the different styles of listening, and explains that these particular listening strategies are also the cornerstones of the ECHO instrument for listening (learn more at http://listeningtochange.com/ (http://listeningtochange.com/)). The difference between sensory and cognitive listening is explored, and Laura explains the best strategies we can use to ensure we really listen actively to what others tell us. Also, we will recall what Caroline Webb taught us in the previous episode: when we listen and we hear things that are identified as a threat in our brain, we switch off and go into survival mode. Exit listening.

Els de Maeijer (Fontys University of Applied Science) reflects on how context-dependent our listening is. The way we listen depends to a large extent on the context we find ourselves in. We end this episode of Clarity in Conversations with 3 concrete and practical tips to improve your listening strategies, in the office and at home.

For more information about the work of Laura Janusik, go to http://listeningtochange.com/ (http://listeningtochange.com/), or visit her page on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurajanusikphd/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurajanusikphd/).

Ever wondered why conversations can unexpectedly go downhill and become unfriendly, toxic encounters instead of productive dialogue? It’s our brain – equipped with survival mechanisms that were built in when we were still hunters and collectors – that responds defensively.

I speak with Caroline Webb, author of the best-selling book How To Have A Good Day. Caroline worked for 30 years as an economist at the Bank of England, and as a Partner at McKinsey and Company. Today she is an executive coach and speaker and runs her own business. Caroline published her book How To Have a Good Day in 2016. Published in 60 countries and translated into the most common languages in the world, How to Have a Good Day covers insights from economics, behavioural psychology and neuroscience, and translates these into practical advice to improve working life

In this episode, we speak about what causes defensive responses in the workplace. Simple, innocent events can cause unexpectedly strong reactions in our brain. This response – triggered by the amygdala – comes at the same moment our ‘thinking brain’ goes off-line and is no longer available for rational thinking and dealing with emotions. Especially, we speak about what managers can do to respond more constructively to circumstances that trigger our defenses. Caroline shares some of her most powerful tips and insights.

Like every week I also speak with Els de Maeijer, researcher Communication and Innovation at Fontys University of Applied Science in The Netherlands, who reflects on each episode and puts the insights in context. The podcast ends with practical tips to enhance the clarity of your conversations, in the office and at home.

For more information about Caroline Webb's book How To Have A Good Day, check her facebook (http://facebook.com/CarolineWebbAuthor (facebook.com/CarolineWebbAuthor)) or twitter (caroline_webb_) feeds.

In the airline industry, clear conversations are vital. One mistake, and people can lose their lives. Pilots learn communication protocols that are strictly reinforced: anything is done to reduce ambiguity and unclarity to an absolute minimum.

I speak with Dr. Steven Mark Sachs. Dr. Sachs has a doctorate in Education from Nova Southeastern University in Florida, and holds a Masters in Psychology from California State University. He has taught business communication, and was Chair of the Business Department at LA Trade-Technical College. Dr. Sachs also is a certified instructor and pilot by the Federal Aviation Association in the US, and has published many articles about communication in aviation.

In the airline industry, the specific context dictates the strict rule for communication, and these rules cannot directly be transferred to offices around the work. Nevertheless, there are many lessons we can learn in the business world from the Aviation Industry. These lessons are discussed in this podcast episode. I also speak with Els de Maeijer, researcher Communication and Innovation at Fontys University of Applied Science in The Netherlands, who reflects on each episode and puts these lessons in context. The podcast ends with practical tips to enhance the clarity of your conversations, in the office and at home.