Listening is invaluable in schools in all sorts of ways and at many levels of responsibility – teachers, school leaders, students themselves and parents. Here Peter Hudson explains why listening is vital for school leaders.
We are all becoming increasingly aware that emotional intelligence, empathy and the ability to be a good listener are beneficial to the well-being of the individual and others. Peter Hudson explores how they are inseparably linked and how they offer a new way towards a better society.
Peter Hudson had just finished having breakfast at what used to be called a country house party in the UK. Having listened to several guests for several minutes, asking them about their work and families, he was asked what he did. ‘I teach teachers how to listen’, he replied.
One of the guests, herself a retired teacher, said ‘Oh that’s the top skill in teaching!’ When he asked her what she thought the reason for that was, she said ‘It builds respect with the students and when you have that you can achieve so much more with them’.