This landmark study proposes and describes how organizations need to create an architecture of listening to regain trust and re-engage people whose voices are unheard or ignored. It presents a compelling case to show that urgent attention to organizational listening is essential for maintaining healthy democracy, organization legitimacy, business sustainability, and social equity.

Embracing listening as a useful tool for strengthening organization-publics and organization-employee relationships, this book offers theoretical and practical insights for listening across myriad strategic communication contexts. Chapters authored by a diverse global collective of communication scholars and professionals present original research and case examples of listening for strategic communication in corporate, government, and nonprofit environments. They explore topics such as utilizing artificial intelligence and social media; activism, social justice, and ethics; and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within and outside organizations. Each chapter concludes with recommendations for strategic communication practice. This book will be of interest to researchers and advanced students in public relations and strategic communication, organizational communication, and listening.

Listening is critical in today’s organizations. As recent examples in the #MeToo era and numerous organizational failures and scandals illustrate, the consequences of poor listening in organizations can be significant, and in some cases, catastrophic. Listening is commonly described in terms of ethics, overlooking its strategic value. The book guides leaders and decision-makers to question the listening habits, practices, and infrastructure within their organizations. The author lays out an argument for the benefits and challenges of strategic listening. She also develops a method for internal analysis of listening capabilities and practices, and provides a framework for building and maintaining a more robust listening culture, infrastructure, and set of practices. In order to improve organizational listening, the author argues that we need to do more than improve personal listening skills, we need to design organizations to listen.

Building on the successful foundation of the first volume, this second edition has been thoroughly revised, reflecting the current state of organizational communication theory and research. Highlights of this edition include: extensive topical coverage, integrated discussion of change, diversity, and digital age issues in all chapters; updated analysis of major issues and influences in organizational communication; and, real-world examples.

The fourth edition of Applied Organizational Communication provides a current, in-depth analysis of the theories and practices critical to understanding organizational communication concepts in a global environment. This new edition has been thoroughly updated and revised to reflect the most current organizational communication theory and research, and includes new information on the use of technology, incorporated throughout. Additional features of this text include: Extensive real-life examples that establish links between organizational communication and perceptions, theory, networks, and symbolic behaviour. Theory-based consulting approaches that enhance abilities to link issues with actions. Grounding in transactional communication and advanced systems approaches. Macro and micro analyses of key topics and issues. As an accessible and practical examination of organizational communication, this text is intended for use in organizational communication, leadership, organizational development, and organizational intervention courses at the advanced undergraduate and graduate level.

How organisations listen, learn, and adapt to their environment drives success and long-term sustainability. This book focuses on internal stakeholders and how employers can use the voice of their people to improve decision-making, innovation, and performance. It is about why listening to employees matters and how to do it well. Leading the Listening Organisation reveals not just the practices and processes that underpin effective listening but also the leadership characteristics and mindsets necessary to create resilient organisations that feel fair to work in, where people want to speak up, and where new ideas can flourish. It is based on extensive international research with leaders across over 500 organisations before, during, and after the pandemic. The authors bring decades of international experience and expertise in communicating with employees across public, private, and third sector organisations. Rich in practical tools, processes, and working frameworks and brought to life with case studies and insights from leaders and communicators, this book provides a complete guide to understanding the barriers to, and implementation plans for, leading a listening organisation. This comprehensive guide will resonate with leadership, internal communications, human resources, and organisational development professionals.