I came across this interesting quote from Stephen Covey while preparing to conduct a training. Communication, particularly listening, is without a doubt one of the most important skills in building and maintaining relationships and, therefore, an integral part of creating impact and demanding change, especially in the climate movement. Hearing and listening involve the same process of receiving but the latter is more active, more intentional, and more collaborative. 

I remember situations where I felt that I was speaking but no one was actively listening, some situations were even magnified because of gender and race. Even the best-laid feedback can be taken out of context, even against you, and  it can easily lead to deep feelings of inadequacy and invisibility which can affect our self-confidence and motivation. A lot of times we hear the loudest voice and automatically assume that they are in control or authority, but when we really listen, they do not truly represent our struggles, experiences, and stories. 

As we work together to create a sustainable future, we must remember to support one another. This includes actively listening to each other:

• Listening to learn, because we are all experts and/or learners in our own right.
• Listening to feel, because we all have different experiences that give us unique perspectives.
• Listening to lead, because we all have different priorities that motivate us.
• Listening to act, because we all operate in different capacities that direct our intentions and actions.

Listening varies in content and intent, and a lot of times we adapt based on the situation, but plain and simple, we can all do better by just listening intentionally.