International Day of Listening

Tomorrow is International Day of Listening. 

Every year, on the third Thursday of September, this day promotes the vital importance of listening to one another. 

Whether it’s in the workplace, at home, or in every social setting, listening well and with intention is a skill that builds trust, reduces misunderstandings, and helps to resolve and eliminate conflict. Listening absolutely improves and deepens relationships.  

Most of us think that we are good and attentive listeners. But most of us are not. And, all of us can be better at listening to one another, no matter who we are. The aim of International Day of Listening is to remind us all of that.

International Day of Listening was born at a dinner table, as many brilliant ideas are. Over meals with others, barriers are often broken down; we connect more strongly over a shared human need - we all need to eat to replenish and fuel our physical bodies. Former International Listening Association President Dr. Sheila Bentley (and former Someone To Tell It To board member!) proposed the idea of having a special day to promote listening globally and to bring interest to the International Listening Association at that dinner of friends. That was in 2016. Ten years later, this day continues to be commemorated and to grow. 

In a present age of increasing global human loneliness and disconnection, listening is deeply needed now more than ever. 

The International Listening Association was created in 1979, by Dr. Ralph G. Nichols, a professor at the University of Minnesota at the time, and who is known as “The Father of Listening”.

Its mission is to make listening an integral part of global culture and society by uniting, engaging, and inspiring international groups, organizations, and individuals who promote its practice, training, and research in varied fields and contexts.

Its vision is to be the international leader of listening practices, teaching, and research.

Its values are about making listening an intentional choice and daily practice to strengthen human connections, collaboration to foster understanding and common goals, inclusiveness that welcomes and represents a wide range of cultures, languages, abilities, and backgrounds, respect that treats all people with dignity and recognizes the value of diverse voices, partnering listening research with real-world experiences to advance listening’s impact, and relationships built on shared, purposeful listening. 

Ultimately, the International Listening Association is about creating better humans who can create solutions for the problems that challenge and divide the human family. 

This is what Someone To Tell It To’s is all about, as well. 

This week the International Listening Association is holding its 47th annual convention. The 2026 convention is virtual, from today, September 16 - Saturday, September 19th. Anyone with an interest in learning more about the impact of good listening or who wants to be a better listener can join in the convention.

In today’s presentations there were people joining in from places such as Ahmedabad, GJ, India, Stuttgart, Germany, Gunma, Japan, Lagos, Nigeria, Tromso, North Norway, Singapore, Baidoa, Somalia, and Iran.

The United States was represented from San Diego, California to New Haven, Connecticut, Tampa, Florida to Seattle, Washington, and Lansing, Michigan to Oxford Mississippi.

What a joy it was to share in conversations about how we listen well or don’t, what sounds and activities can help to calm us and allow us to focus on listening better, and discovering common language and ways to engage children in listening intentionally from very young ages, across different cultures and regions of the world. What a privilege it was to gain perspectives and perceptions about listening from such a diverse audience of people from Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America.

Someone To Tell It To’s Co-Founders Michael Gingerich and Tom Kaden are presenting to the worldwide audience of attendees on Saturday, the 17th, at 11:10am - 12:10pm Eastern Daylight Time. Their topic is “What are Your Listening Stories?” During our time you can experience the magic that happens when we truly attend to each other and hear their deepest thoughts and about their most impactful experiences. We hope you will join in the convention as a whole and with us as meaningful stories of listening’s impact are shared. 

If you want to learn more about how to be a better human by being a better listener, you can also join in one of Someone To Tell It To’s virtual listening training programs, anytime at your convenience - Be a Better Leader and  Learning to Listen 101 (for both individuals and groups).

We welcome you to discover how listening can absolutely change lives and relationships. Listening is a major component that enhances human interactions and creates better connections with one another. The effects can be profound. We want the whole world to know how much listening well can transform lives, perceptions, and cultures. 

We practice and model good listening every day. We’re not perfect. But we are - person-by-person, group-by-group - making a difference in the world, to strengthen human relationships and connections.

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com M on Unsplash