Following our first critical dialogue on the theme of ‘Happiness, Social Responsibility and Diversity’ I was reflecting on how we move on. My thinking was focused on what we needed to say and how attendees could best communicate and engage in a dialogue with each other.
However, at the same time I was re-reading Les Back’s The Art of Listening. The impact was that I stopped thinking about what people might want to say and started instead to think about how – and if - we listen and hear what others are saying, potentially all around us. I also thought about how the arts – and Hybrid - might play a role within this.
So, I wanted to start by saying that the Hybrid website is about listening, which seems a funny statement to make in a blog which tends to be about ‘speaking’. Nevertheless, I think it’s possible to ‘make change happen’ (hmm, where have I heard that recently) by providing a conduit through which to listen and to engage in dialogue that enables and facilitates change – BUT it’s also important that it’s a constructive, positive framework.
So, in a world full of people with something to say, it’s rarer to find people who want to actively listen and who want to practice the art of listening. And listening is active; it’s about asking the right questions and contemplating what’s been said. So, this website is a space for listening to each other and hearing, so please engage, participate, speak and listen.
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