The Art of Active Listening

Praise

“The Art of Active Listening is a delight to read. Heather R Younger’s use of stories and insights from her years of research shows why our current definition of active listening is flawed and why the way Younger re-introduces it is the key ingredient for creating workplaces where customers and employees alike can feel heard, valued and understood. This resource is packed full of practical tips and strategies to take us from “thinking” we are listening to actually listening to one another at work.”
—Amy E. Edmonson, Harvard Business School professor and bestselling author of The Fearless Organization
 
“After having been privileged to lead a billion-dollar company for twenty-five years, I can say, without a doubt, that my leadership team’s desire to listen to our tribe and our customers in the way Heather lays out in this book is crucial to building trust and a positive culture. In this book, The Art of Active Listening, you will find the blueprint to create a Culture of Listening in your workplace that can ensure that those in your care know that you have heard them, and they will respond with more loyalty to your brand.”
—Garry Ridge, The Culture Coach and Chairman Emeritus, WD-40 Company
 
“As a leader, active listening fosters psychological safety for employees while creating a climate of inclusion for the organization. The Art of Active Listening makes space for improving culture behavior through listening.  The tools shared in this book helped me to start with listening to myself on the pathway to understanding the different forms of listening to others.”
—Yetta Toliver, DBA, LSSBB (she/her/hers), Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB), Xerox Corporation
 
“Knowing exactly what to say is essential—but failing to really listen is probably the biggest expense to Leaders and Sales Professionals Today. Heather Younger brings focus to this fact, and more importantly delivers us the mindset and skillset to make active listening your latest superpower”
—Phil M Jones, bestselling author of Exactly What to Say
 
“If you can relate to people, you can lead them, but relating starts with listening, and most of us don’t know how, even when we think we do. Whether you are looking to close a deal, lean in as a leader, or simply become a better human being, you’ll want to learn how to listen. Based on years of researching, consulting, and strategizing, this book provides a simple framework for mastering the art of active listening.”
—Whitney Johnson, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Smart Growth, host of the Disrupt Yourself podcast
 
“Listening deeply and with intent is one of the most fundamental ways we can demonstrate respect and help others feel they are visible.  In The Art of Active Listening Heather lays out a simple 5-step cycle that anyone in business can use to improve their listening skills.  The strategies she shares not only help drive a more inclusive workplace, but also contribute to greater professional and personal success for those employing the techniques.  Her authenticity in sharing her own personal challenges and how she has turned them into opportunities for improvement helps the reader to see that active listening is something we all should embrace.
—Kim Markiewicz, Vice President of DE&I, DuPont
 
“The Art of Active Listening is an essential guide for all of us. Most of us don’t listen nearly as often or as well as we think we do – or as well as others wished we would! Our ability to listen deeply impacts the quality of our relationships, at work and in life, and as a result our ability to connect with others. This book reveals the secret to developing this priceless skill. Timely, powerful, and effective.”
—Morag Barrett, executive coach and bestselling author of Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationships, and You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up as One!)
 
“On the heels of a global pandemic and racial and political unrest, people at work need to listen to each other more, not less. This book is brilliant, because it teaches us all what it means to hold space for people at work and really listen to them. Through stories and digestible tips, The Art of Active Listening is a book everyone at work should use as a guide to listen well.”
—Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer, VaynerX
 
“If you’re looking to equip your supervisors and managers with powerful tools to help your organization drive retention and create a culture and environment where everyone feels valued and understood in this hyper-competitive market for talent, I encourage you to read The Art of Active Listening by Heather R Younger. Heather is a proven leader with a deep knowledge and experiences across multiple industries and management functions, and The Art of Active Listening is chocked full of simple but practical actions that supervisors and managers can take to truly transform any organization.”
—Troy W. Washington, SHRM-CP, Vice President for Human Resources, University of Dayton
 
“The Art of Active Listening is full of actionable strategies for anyone wanting to learn to listen better. People fundamentally want to be recognized for their thoughts and contributions. There is no better way to do that than to learn the new way of active listening that Younger outlines in this fabulous book!” 
—Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton, New York Times bestselling authors of All In and Leading with Gratitude
 
“In a time of constant change and seemingly unending uncertainty, we’re all looking for something that breaks through, brings us together and allows us to interact and have meaningful communication as humans. This is true at work, at home and as a society. Heather Younger has found that thread that can do this – listening to each other. Her book shows how consistently using all components of her Cycle of Active Listening model gives us a common ground which has been missing. I highly recommend this book both as a directional roadmap and a useful resource for business leaders, HR professionals, people managers and employees (personally and professionally.) I know I will  intentionally be using the Cycle of Active Listening from now on.”
—Steve Browne,SHRM-SCP, Chief People Officer, LaRosa’s, Inc.
 
“The power of really learning how to listen is often underestimated. When we experience someone truly present and listening, it is a gift that strengthens the human bond and sets the stage for collective success. Listening so that others feel heard, valued, and understood is a skill that requires both attention and intention. Heather Younger clearly delineates her model of the Cycle of Listening to explore the powerful impact of organizational listening – essential to high employee engagement, loyalty and retention and a company culture built on a foundation of trust. Younger includes real-world examples of what motivates employees as well as what frustrates them right out the door. At a time when employees are critically examining the culture of organizations they join or leave – this is an invaluable resource for every leader striving empower employees to collective success.”
—Melissa Hughes, PhD, Author of Happy Hour with Einstein and Happier Hour with Einstein: Another Round
 
“As HR leaders are expected to be responsible for employee engagement and retention outcomes, it is critical that we use employee feedback as a strategic differentiator to create workplaces that are truly inclusive. The strategies in The Art of Active Listening help get us there. A must-read for any HR leader looking to take workplace culture to the next level!” 
—Angela D. Schaefer, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, VP & Chief Human Resources Officer, Safety National
 
“While the word ‘sales’ is not in the title of The Art of Active Listening, it should be a go-to resource for anyone with an ambition of selling more tomorrow than they are selling today. I learned so much from this masterpiece that I am making it required reading for all my coaching clients from this day forward.”
—Chris Spurvey, author of It’s Time to Sell: Cultivating the Sales Mind-Set
 
“As a mental health advocate and someone who suffers from bipolar disorder, I can tell you that having someone listen to me at work and at home, and I mean, really listen to me, made all the difference in me finding my way out of a sense of loneliness to a sense of connectedness. This book’s focus on active listening at work is a game changer for those who want people around them to feel understood and more likely to want to stay with their organization.” 
—Natasha Bowman, JD., Founder, The Bowman Foundation