Speakers
Speaker
If trust is critical to the future success of organisations, many have a problem. They still don’t listen enough to the voices of the people working inside them.
Despite the language we use, ‘listening’ at work is too regularly reduced to transactional processes, such as surveys, pulse checks and one-way feedback.
Real listening is harder but far more valuable. It means actively seeking colleague insight, making sense of what is heard and, crucially, responding in ways that prove leaders are paying attention.
In this session, Howard Krais, co-author of Leading the Listening Organisation, challenges communicators to confront an uncomfortable truth. That until we move beyond overly focusing on broadcasting news or creating content to feed hungry channels, we won’t build or maintain trust.
Drawing on research and real-world examples, Howard will demonstrate how the rich insights that come from meaningful listening deliver real organisational value. This positions internal communication where it belongs – at the epicentre of organisational decision-making. Through this lens, internal communicators are no longer messengers but strategic advisors who understand how to harness the power of their colleagues.
Howard Krais is co-founder of True, established with Ann-Marie Blake in 2023 to help organisations create change with their people rather than doing it to them.
True’s work is grounded in the belief that a genuinely people-centred approach drives stronger, more sustainable business performance.
Before founding True, Howard held senior global roles in change, communications and employee engagement at organisations including NatWest, Eversheds, EY, GSK and Johnson Matthey. Across these roles, he became known for combining strategic clarity with a deep understanding of the employee experience.
In recent years, Howard has emerged as a leading voice on organisational listening. His research led to the publication of Leading the Listening Organisation (2023), now widely used by leaders seeking to build trust, dialogue and engagement.
A Fellow of both the Institute for Internal Communications and the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence, Howard is a sought-after speaker on leadership, change and communication.