A groundbreaking new book co-authored by renowned coaching experts Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh from RCSI’s Centre for Positive Health Sciences and Dr Robert Biswas-Diener offers a transformative approach to human connection through intentional and responsive listening.

Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection goes beyond the familiar practice of 'active listening', arguing that listening is not just about understanding or responding, it is about building connection.

The book offers readers an accessible roadmap to becoming better listeners in personal, professional, and community settings. It explores the difference between active and radical listening and how to match your listening approach to the needs of others.

It shares models and exercises to practice more intentional, responsive listening as well as techniques for creating connection, trust, and empathy.

Fostering empathy

Explaining the necessity of the book, Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh said: “Due, in part, to the proliferation of digital technology, people are more distracted than ever. In addition, there is growing social discord. Listening can help reconnect us and improve our focus.

“Listening doesn’t start with our ears – it starts with our intention. Radical listening is about creating space for people to feel truly seen and valued. We do this by starting to think of listening as a truly purposeful and proactive action. Through the six core skills of radical listening we share in the book, we are giving readers the tools to create profound moments of connection, dissolve division, alleviate loneliness, and foster genuine empathy.”

Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh (PhD) is a world-renowned academic and executive coach. He is Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology at RCSI’s Centre for Positive Health Sciences and Principal Fellow at the Centre for Wellbeing Science of the University of Melbourne. Dr Robert Biswas-Diener is a researcher, author and consultant with 72 peer-reviewed academic articles and more than 27,000 citations.

Optimising health and well-being

The RCSI Centre for Positive Health Sciences was established in 2019 in response to the increasing prevalence of diseases associated with lifestyle and the growing evidence of the role of psychological factors in optimising health and well-being. The centre stands at the forefront of innovative healthcare education, dedicated to shaping the future of health and well-being.

Published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection is now available in bookstores and online.

Watch the video below in which Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh is joined Dr Trudy Meehan for a webinar where he gave a deeper dive into the ideas shared in the book.

Watch video