Do You Exercise Inclusive Listening?
- Author: Heather R Younger
- Word Count: 222
Read the news article
I had a recent team meeting where I brought our Caring Leadership coaches together to discuss an idea regarding the community. The call ended up going in an entirely different direction, but ended up in an amazing place. As the conversation grew, many strong opinions came forth on all sides, but I trusted each of them individually to carry everything out well. Could the call have flown off the rails?
Sure. But because I was open to hearing all of these different opinions. I was practicing an essential part of caring leadership: inclusive listening. Having the willingness to hear from diverse voices and accept dissenting opinions not only supported my team to continue their conversation in an authentic way, but also allowed each participant to be and feel heard. Inclusive listening can apply to all areas of your life.
It’s an ongoing skill that you can constantly improve, especially when it comes to leadership. Here are a few ways to do that: Don’t Just Listen; ACT! As diversity grows around you, in the workplace or otherwise, you’ll likely find yourself coming to head with personalities you haven’t encountered before.
Article written by: Heather R younger who is a diversity & inclusion, Customer Experience speaker from Denver, CO
Contact us at Speakers Inc and subscribe to our Podcast Channel
Further articles you may enjoy:
- (1)
Branding Benefits Professional Women in leadership roles manage their Personal Brands on a daily basis; and they started focusing on creating theirs early-on in their careers. Why do they focus on Personal Branding? And why has it become such a hot topic in the workforce today? Smart women in business understand the basic concept that […]
- December 19, 2022
- (7)
Kevin Gaskell seems to be meeting more and more people in business at the moment who are concerned that the economy is a bumpy ride and unpredictable. You can certainly feel a lot of turbulence in the air; Brexit, Trump, FX rates, inflation, Russia, Middle East, fake news etc. The truth is that if you […]
- January 13, 2023
- (35)
The need for resilient leadership has never been more urgent in today’s unpredictable global climate, where economic volatility, social upheaval, and technological disruption dominate headlines. For event planners and corporate bookers, understanding and curating experiences around this theme can spark not only thought-provoking discussions but also provide actionable frameworks for organizations navigating complexity. Why Resilient […]
- June 26, 2025
- (76)
Remembering Eddie Osterland: America’s First Master Sommelier The wine world lost a true pioneer in September 2023 with the passing of Eddie Osterland, America’s first Master Sommelier. A trailblazer in the industry, Eddie was more than just a wine expert; he was an educator, an entertainer, and an inspiration to countless professionals and enthusiasts alike. […]
- September 7, 2023
- (35)
Generosity is an interesting beast. As a charity CEO, I have seen it expressed in many different ways. The best kind of generosity comes with warmth and good old NSA – no strings attached. This kind of generosity is glorious to witness and is the backbone of charity work all over the world. The worst […]
- January 16, 2023
- (13)
How your company’s career page is deterring candidates from applying. Every employee at your company can make or break a customer’s experience. That’s why it’s so important to ensure employees not only understand your company’s story, but also how they fit into it. Why does your company exist? Is there alignment between your stated mission, vision, and […]
- December 21, 2022
- (61)
Welcome to the Dunder Mifflin Leadership Wisdom, where we draw inspiration from the legendary antics of The Office’s Michael Scott, Jim Halpert, and even Dwight Schrute. While the show may be known for its hilarious mishaps and quirky characters, there’s an underlying theme that every leader can learn from: the importance of motivating your staff. […]
- September 20, 2023
- (43)
In an era where customer expectations are higher than ever, many Retail Businesses Are Failing at Customer Service and experience. Despite technological advancements and increased competition, the quality of customer interactions has seen a noticeable decline. The Failing at Customer Service Quality Recent studies highlight a troubling trend: customer satisfaction is at a decade low. […]
- April 22, 2025
