Listen, listen, listen

I had an insight on a training event in 1970 that we could solve all our organization’s problems if we listened to each other. A week later I had an “Old Kent Road” moment from very high up that said, “This is the world problem, Nick and it’s your job to fix it.” This led to me changing my work completely from science to organisation development, coaching and training and facilitating. Listening is an important and neglected social skill. It is critical. We won’t save the world without it.

Now it’s 2050 and  how increasing the amount and quality of listening has created  a more cooperative world. But first, what happens when you listen?

When you listen with an open heart and an open mind, you begin to understand the world and needs of the other. Then you know how to help them or influence them in a way that gives you both what you want. If you have ever listened deeply to someone who is different to you by race, class, sex, age, faith you will never stereotype anyone from that group again.

When someone listens to you profoundly, you don’t just feel better. you also think better and act more confidently.

Here is what happened!

1. We taught young people in schools and higher education to take

turns listening to each other

1. .

 

1. We did the same in and

between organisations

1. . People felt and thought better and worked better together so their organisations and society thrived.

 

1. The idea of taking turns

listening to people who were very different to you

1. went viral. Social media platforms first competed to deliver this service and then worked together to enable it world wide.

 

1. People everywhere and almost simultaneously realised that we are literally members of one squabbling family and decided to stop.

 

1. Although there were problems, there were places where cooperation, creativity and joy were already happening.

We started to look for them

1. , spread stories about what was already working. Thes stories inspired more action and created an optimistic virtuous circle.

 

A group of visionaries challenged us all with this, “Imagine that it’s 2025 and we have had a message from some benevolent aliens that they will be visiting the Earth on 2050 to see how we are getting on. What do we want them to say?” This has caused a world-wide tidy up, just like when the in-laws visit a young couple the first time.

Finally, doing this work was fun for everyone. There is nothing more enjoyable than doing great work together! Let’s get on with it.