The Listening Cycle: Closing the Loop
- Author:
- Word Count: 454
Read the news article
Over the last four weeks, I’ve elaborated on what I call the Closing the Loop. You can find the articles here. This consists of:
- Step 1: Recognizing the Unsaid – Unspoken things in your culture’s organization to recognize that your people aren’t telling their entire truth.
- Step 2: Seeking to Understand – Leaning in to understand someone’s perspective and really hearing them.
- Step 3: Decode – Taking time to reflect, investigate, and then ponder about the feedback you have been given and what to do about it.
- Step 4: Act – Acting upon what you’ve heard, so your people know their voices are powerful and that you will do something about the feedback that is given.
- Step 5: Closing the Loop – Connecting the dots by sharing what you’ve heard and the actions you’re taking.
I think, often, leaders don’t put in the time to truly learn how to listen because it may seem primal. But, the truth is, truly listening is something most leaders don’t know how to do.
Think about it – have you ever had a manager who really listened to you?
In this video, I break down what it means to connect the dots from the very beginning of the process to the very end.
Plus, I tell you about the extremely rewarding results that closing the loop has.
Hint, hint: it makes team members feel valued, heard, and included because they know that their feedback was taken into consideration and actions were taken as a result.
The Listening Cycle: Closing the Loop
I want to challenge you to write down (or think) about a time when:
You felt that your manager truly listened to you
You felt like your voice was not heard
Let’s think about how this made you feel.
Now that you have these two distinct feelings in mind, you will better understand how important completing the five steps in the listening process is.
You wouldn’t want to make someone feel like you did when your voice was not heard, right?
Of course not! So, I encourage you to take the initiative and create a Culture of Listening in your organization.
Heather R Younger is a highly sought-after speaker, 2x-TEDx speaker, diversity, equity, and inclusion strategist, and contributor to leading news outlets. She is also the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and consulting firm.
After over 25,000 employee engagement surveys and years of working with organizations to transform employee engagement, here’s what Heather has seen over and over:
When you know how to listen, employees will tell you exactly what they need to bring their full selves to work for Closing the Loop.
Contact us at Speakers Inc and view WeSpeak Global
Further articles you may enjoy:
- (4)
Thanksgiving 2024, celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November, is a cherished American holiday that brings families and friends together to express gratitude and share a bountiful meal. Its origins trace back to 1621, when the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people shared an autumn harvest feast, marking one of the earliest instances of […]
- November 28, 2024
- (31)
Elevating the Customer Experience at Airports: How Airports are Enhancing Every Passenger’s Journey For travelers around the world, airports serve as the gateway to their adventures and journeys, but this Customer Experience at Airports can often be challenging due to stress, long lines, and crowds. In response, airports have started transforming their customer experience (CX) […]
- October 31, 2024
- (5)
Want Your Audience to Master the Art of Influence? Bring in a speaker who turns “maybe” into “yes.” Because in today’s world, negotiation isn’t just a skill—it’s survival to Master the Art of Influence. 💼 Whether it’s closing deals, navigating conflict, or leading with confidence, your audience needs to know how to negotiate like pros. […]
- April 14, 2025
- (4)
Embracing Digital Leadership: The Journey of Erik Qualman, aka “Equalman” Erik Qualman, widely recognized as “Equalman,” stands as a beacon of digital leadership and transformation. His work, which spans keynote speaking, bestselling authorship, and digital expertise, has profoundly influenced the realms of social media and digital transformation. Equalman’s journey is a testament to the power […]
- July 12, 2024
- (36)
The AI Keynote Speakers Defining America’s Digital Future where Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future trend. It is the defining force shaping business, government, education, healthcare, finance, and innovation across the United States. From boardrooms in New York to tech hubs in Silicon Valley, leaders are navigating one of the most significant technological transformations […]
- February 16, 2026
- (21)
THE NEUROSCIENCE OF 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 […]
- January 16, 2023
- (4)
The Cost of Neglecting Customer Experience in today’s competitive events industry, customer experience (CX) has emerged as a defining element of success. Event planners and bookers are no longer evaluated solely on logistics or creativity; instead, they are judged by the overall experience they provide—from the first point of contact to the post-event follow-up. Neglecting […]
- April 23, 2025
- (6)
We are all spending a lot of time inside our homes. How much do you REALLY need? For those whose homes are a disorganized clutter zone, this could be stressful and result in more anxiety than isolating already brings to the table. If you are constantly tripping over stuff on the floor, and having to […]
- December 20, 2022