TalkWise Podcast Alan Robertson

Narratives are powerful forces, shaping not only our perceptions and attitudes about issues but also how we behave towards other people. A narrative can inform or misinform, do good or do harm, expand understanding, co-operation, trust and well-being or reduce them. In a challenged, conflicted and changing world the manner of our storytelling has never been more important. In this episode communications professional Rachel Erskine explains the vital role that ethical storytelling plays in the...

For some people severe speech and language difficulties are very evident, whether they date from birth or from life misfortunes such as accidents, strokes and dementia. But in this episode learning and development expert and coach Stef Ticehurst, a highly experienced speech and language therapist herself, points out that we all have difficulties with speech and language in some form and to some degree or other. She suggests some practical ways we can be more sy...

The world of work is still adjusting to the shocks and after-shocks of the covid pandemic. Rather than simply choosing or balancing where work happens, RTO (Return to Office) or WFH (Work from Home), organisations are faced with the need for unprecedented levels of behavioural and technological adaptability and flexibility. In this episode Organisation Development explorer and guide Gwen Stirling-Wilkie talks about her concept of Omni-Working, working effectively in all ways from all places, ...

One of the reasons why it is not easy to be a good listener is that there are so many other calls on our attention, both from the world around us and from what’s going through our minds as we supposedly ‘listen’ to others. In this episode guest interviewer Amy Dempsey returns to question Alan Robertson about the development and purpose of the latest addition to the VoicePrint suite, the Listening Questionnaire, a talk-wise tool that can help us all to learn to listen better.Many of...

Listening is a vital part of good communication and effective interactions, but it can be difficult to do it well. Selfless listening requires us to set aside our own concerns and to give our full attention to what someone else wishes to say. In this episode communications expert and Samaritans listening volunteer Janie Van Hool returns to the TalkWise Podcast to emphasise why listening selflessly can be so beneficial, to reflect on how easily good listening intentions can be disrupted ...

Although communication is sometimes described as one-way, no act of communication is merely one-dimensional: all communications reflect both intent, conscious or subconscious, and impact, positive, neutral or negative. So while speeches, presentations and monologues can be multi-faceted in these respects, how much more complex, dynamic and potentially either creative or destructive is the interactive process of dialogue. In this episode guest Paul Minx shares reflections and insights about th...