Welcome to the Age of Listening

90-minute virtual course

This course will provide you with an introduction to listening. It will build an understanding of why listening to employees is increasingly essential for businesses, what good looks like and how to do it. It will share practical examples to illustrate what works and what leaders' role is in creating a climate where listening can thrive in an organisation.

What to expect

Understand what we mean by listening in organisations.
Understand the benefits of listening in an organisation and how to overcome the obstacles that often get in the way.
Learn about different ways to listen. Understand the challenges of the ‘annual survey’ and how to avoid survey fatigue.
Explore the role of leaders in creating the right climate for listening to flourish.
Discuss the role of networks, such as Employee Resource Groups, and their role in supporting listening.
Consider the impact of and opportunities from digital channels.

Who should attend

Professionals working in strategic communication, corporate communication, internal communication, external communication, corporate affairs, employee experience, human resources change management or public relations. Those leading teams, projects or having to influence others within the organisation.

Career level

Generalist / Specialist, Strategic Advisor, Business Leader

Course outline

Topic One: The Age of Listening

Why is this the Age of Listening? Why listening matters.
What do we mean by listening?
Benefits and obstacles

Topic Two: How to Listen

Trust and psychological safety
Channels and methods, including more creative approaches to listening
Networks
Digital Channels
Listening spectrum

Topic Three: Creating a Climate for Listening to Flourish

Role of the leader
Introduction to a listening climate
The role of listening during change
Measurement and planning

About the trainer
Howard Krais co-founded True; a business set up to help organisations build winning cultures through maximising the potential of their people, in early 2023. Before True, Howard spent much of his career in senior in-house communications and engagement roles at businesses such as Ernst & Young, GSK and latterly Johnson Matthey. Over the past five and a half years, together with colleague Mike Pounsford and Kevin Ruck, Howard has led work focused on how organisations listen. Following four ground-breaking reports, a book, entitled “Leading the Listening Organisation” was published by Routledge in December 2023. Howard was President of the UK chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for two years (2019-21), and Chairman of Wealdstone Football Club (2007-16).