Active listening is a skill that should be learned at the individual and organizational levels. Specifically, it’s a skill that organizational leaders should learn to build a culture of open communication and genuine feedback within their teams. Don Harris, Chief Executive Officer of TalkBack, joins us in this episode to tell us why it’s important to listen genuinely, to share tips to be great listeners and to discuss topics related to listening.  

In this Episode:


[00:01 - 04:23] Opening Segment

  • Let’s get to know Don Harris
  • Active Listening Coach
  • Coach 
  • Engagement and Feedback Specialist



[04:24 - 14:38] Getting People to Open Up To You

  • How organizations can improve their listening and engagement skills
  • The things that matter to people during a conversation 
  • Get people to open up to you with these tips from Don



[14:39 - 20:32] Becoming a Better Listener 

  • Don’t miss these suggestions from Don to be better listeners
  • Why focusing on the eyes of the other person is a must 
  • Here are Don’s insights about body language you should know



[20:33 - 30:30] Building a Culture of Listening and Open Communication

  • What can Don say about physical touch? 
  • Don’s tips for leaders to effectively give feedback to their teams 
  • Build a culture of listening and open communication



[30:31 - 41:12] Empathizing With People

  • The beauty of podcasting 
  • The conversation that left you with the most impact
  • A conversation with a medical staff when he was rushed to the hospital 
  • What communication skill would you have wanted to learn sooner?
  • Empathy 
  • The best communicator you know
  • His good friend, Neil
  • Mary Robinson
  • Mary McAleese



[41:13 - 43:30] Closing Segment

  • Connect with Don!
  • Links below 
  • Final words from me



Tweetable Quotes:

“For me, if I’m giving feedback, first of all, it has to be genuine, honest...it is to fix things.” - Don Harris

“People are prepared to put away theri smart device in their pocket, in their bag, in their backpack, and really talk and take in their surroundings...” - Don Harris



Resources Mentioned: 




Email don@talkback.ie to connect with Don. You can also get in touch with him on LinkedIn and Facebook. Check out TalkBack to improve your active listening skills.


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