It still feels like summer, although there are a few red and gold leaves starting to sprinkle themselves on trees. Yet, there is a sense of anticipation in homes with children ready to put on their new shirts, skirts, slacks and get into the groove of reading, writing, and arithmetic. In many districts the schools will be filled with kids and good to go. Sadly, public education, especially in urban areas will have lots of gaps and empty spaces. It is sad for the youngsters who do not have family support or school support. The future is being created at this very moment and it is up to us to begin to ask the hard questions about our society. We are being judged on how we care for the young, how we help the infirm, and how we treat our elders. On all levels we do not get very good grades.

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Our staff has been busy putting together a new workshop on active listening. It has our CEO stamp because it helps people look at the underlying patterns, learned in childhood that we bring with us to the workplace. This program is to improve communication skills, impact workplace relationships, help with conflict resolution, and enhance our leadership development program.

Talking and listening skills are at the core of team building and managing stress in the workplace. We know that hearing is only the physical act of letting sound waves into the brain. Listening, ah, that’s another story. Question: did you ever pay attention to your physical reactions when someone really listens to you?

I have been doing a bit of informal research on this issue. Many report a sense of calm, even if the subject is complex or contentious. Others gain greater clarity, even if the listener merely listens and says nothing. Still others have said they felt grateful, even a sense of deep appreciation, some have said they have felt as if their heart has expanded.

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The furor over health care points to a core concern in our society; the way we discuss and decide important issues. Learning how to talk about and resolve contentious subjects should begin at home and in school. It rarely does.

In the business world executive education programs, management training courses, conflict resolution workshops, leadership development, take us only so far. Back in the workplace it is still too common and easy to fall back to the patterned reactions of agree-disagree, win-lose.

Last week John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods created uproar when he wrote about his perspective toward health care. He has a stake in the game and did comment about the difference healthy food makes in maintaining health. He also took on the present administration for its views. Is there something to learn from his thoughts?

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