The Hidden Power of Listening with Dr. Graham Bodie

"What would it look like to have, as one recent philosopher has coined, a listening society? What would it mean to actually take seriously markers of well-being alongside of GDP and other markers of economic health to talk about how well we're doing as a society? What if we actually measured those things in schools to say not only 80% of us passed the test, but we're doing well emotionally, we're doing well mentally, we're doing well physically. What if we took those things seriously? How could listening be part of that shift in mindset and culture within schools to really stress the importance of some of these skills from kindergarten, all the way through high school?"

During these times when voices need to be heard, listening skills are critical. In the first episode of our “Listen Up!” series, professor, consultant and listening expert Dr. Graham Bodie shares his wisdom and strategies that will help all listeners feel more comfortable and confident while engaging in the difficult yet essential conversations required to improve our society.

Dr. Graham Bodie (www.grahambodie.com/) works on “how to improve listening for better relationships”. He is a professor at the School of Journalism and New Media at University of Mississippi whose work on listening has been written, researched, and awarded on an international level. Dr. Bodie’s reach extends outside of the University, however, as he is the Chief Listening Officer of Listen First (www.listenfirstproject.com/), which aims to spread the importance and know-how of listening throughout communities such as schools, non-profits and government agencies.