Listen, adapt, and respond to progress change challenges

Listen for cues to how people talk about change.

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Are they hopeful?

Are they fearful?

Are they indifferent?

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Are they open to conversations of change?

Are they sounding the alarm in noisy protest?

Are they displaying disapproval in silent protest?

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Skillfully leading through change requires you to:

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Listen to what’s being said

• Seek to understand their view of the world.

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Listen to what’s not being said

• Sense beneath the surface by holding space.

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Listen with genuine care and concern

• Support by withholding judgement, empathising, and then taking action with what you’ve learned.

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According to Forbes, on average we spend 40% of our day listening, yet less than 2% of us have ever received formal listening training to develop this skill.

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Leader-led listening precedes meaningful dialogue.? Listening builds trust, communicates mutual respect and fosters loyalty when change challenges arise.

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Listening to change challenges (such as pace and volume of change, process of implementation and poor role-modelling) often involves heightened and valid human emotions such as frustration, anger and anxiety.

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Whereas, listening to change opportunities (such as learning and development, co-creation and innovation) often involves more energising emotions such hope, joy and excitement.

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Skillful change leaders balance both change challenges and change opportunities.? In turn, those on the receiving end of change shift to feeling seen, heard and appreciated.

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Human beings crave emotional balance and harmony and this starts with mindful awareness and acceptance that can be supported via leader-led listening.

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When you can listen at a level that others don’t have the patience or persistence for, useful data will arise, and you will succeed in a time when emotional intelligence and change leadership has never been more important.

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Forbes sums it up best with this:

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‘Leaders can drive transformation, not through talking, but through small silences that allow people to process and share.? Find answers in the quiet. The transformation will follow.’

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Listen for cues to how people talk about change.

Then adapt and respond to make useful progress.

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Let’s embrace change and win,

Ciara

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Question: What are you hearing more of during your conversations of change?

Exhaustion? ?Excitement? ?Perhaps both?

Let me know below.

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Additional resources to strengthen your listening:

(All written by clever Australian Authors)

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Deep Listening , Oscar Trimboli

The Coaching Habit , Michael Bungay Stanier

Conversations of Change , Dr Jen Frahm

Reimagine Change , Ciara Lancaster (Yes, this one’s mine)

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P.S. If you are looking to inspire your senior leaders or frontline super-stars to better listen and support one another through fast-paced change, lock in a keynote experience facilitated by Australia’s Leading Voice on Change Fatigue & Resilience, Ciara Lancaster.?

Find out about bringing a Reimagine Change? interactive keynote to your business, annual conference or association summit.? CLICK HERE