Listening at Work: Slowing Down to Understand Better
In many workplaces, we’re always trying to go faster, perform better, and fix everything.
In that context, it becomes hard to truly listen.
Yet taking the time to listen allows something that speed can’t: a deeper understanding of situations, needs, and people. And that’s often where the best decisions are made — in a moment of genuine attention.
Listening to act more wisely
Active listening doesn’t slow down the work — it makes it more meaningful. Before jumping to solutions, listening helps us grasp what’s really going on: a concern, a misunderstanding, an unspoken idea. That simple pause often prevents costly corrections or unnecessary tension.
A team that listens usually makes better decisions, because it acts with a better understanding of issues and their root cause.
A collectective act of well-being
Being listened to is soothing. It reduces stress, builds trust, and makes collaboration easier. In a culture of listening, everyone feels recognized — not only for what they do, but for what they experience and think. Over time, this transforms the workplace: exchanges become more respectful, relationships more stable, and mental well-being more present.
A practice to be cultivated
At Tel-Aide Montréal, we’ve been training volunteers in active listening for over 50 years. And what we observe every day is simple: listening doesn’t fix everything — but it changes everything. Because it restores connection, opens understanding, and gives shared words their meaning back.
💙 Being heard feels good, and at work, it shows.
