Episode #33: Raquel Ark – Listening ALCHEMY and the Gold Beyond Words
The name listening ALCHEMY came to Raquel Ark in the middle of the night, evoking ideas of how art and science could combine to distil and purify the act of listening.
Soon after, she was asked to deliver a number of workshops on listening, giving her the confidence to build a career around the subject to which she has devoted her life and turn listening ALCHEMY into a business.
As her recent TED talk testifies, listening is the centre of Raquel's work as a communications coach, public speaker, mentor of leaders, and host of the listening SUPERPOWER podcast.
Raquel’s mission is to give listening a voice, and she teaches people how to listen in a way that creates true connection, leading to change and action at an individual level and a broader, systemic level.
In our conversation, Raquel shares powerful insights about her life and work, including a metaphorical tool for getting present in coaching sessions, and wisdom about how people's minds really work when they are listening.
In this episode, we talk about:
The power of playfulness in opening doors to new coaching methods
Coaching as a meditation on presence
How to make sure you are understood in the way that's important to you
Listening circles and how to ensure everyone's voice is heard
Raquel explains how listening is about more than words, and you will learn how to allow your clients to listen to themselves.
For more information about Raquel, visit https://listeningalchemy.com/ or email her at contact@listeningalchemy.com.
For information about Robbie’s wider work and writing, visit www.robbieswale.com, and to buy his book, click here.
Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg
To support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community
Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):
- Robbie’s book, How to Start (a book, business or creative project) When You’re Stuck https://geni.us/startwhenyourestuck
- Vera Janke https://www.linkedin.com/in/verajanke/
- International Coaching Federation (ICF) https://coachingfederation.org/
- Transformational Presence: How to Make a Difference in a Rapidly Changing World, by Alan Seale https://transformationalpresence.org/transformational-presence-book/
- Coaches Rising, The Power of Presence https://www.coachesrising.com/powerofpresence/
- Robbie’s article on recommitting https://www.robbieswale.com/writing/2018/5/23/recommitting-is-the-journey
- Raquel's TED talk on Growing your Listening Superpower https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wgFrKRjYiA
- Raquel’s conversation with Colin Smith https://listeningalchemy.com/2021/11/15/stop-doing-listening-and-start-being-a-listener-with-colin-smith-2/
- Presencing Institute https://www.presencing.org/
- Jodie Goulden https://keynotewomen.com/speaker/jodiegoulden
- Niels Van Quaquebeke https://www.the-klu.org/faculty-research/faculty/resident-faculty/niels-van-quaquebeke/
- Mike Toller https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-32-mike-toller
- Myles Downey https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-31-myles-downey
- Guy Itzchakov https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Guy-Itzchakov-2
- Templeton Foundation's Listening and Learning study https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/blog/listening-and-learning-changing-mindsets-and-emotional-responses-promote-human-flourishing
- Avi Kluger https://www.avi-kluger.com/about-me
- Raquel's podcast, Listen In https://podcasts.apple.com/br/podcast/listen-in/id1457489060?l=en
- Listen In episode with Corine Jansen https://listeningalchemy.com/2019/08/12/practical-insights-for-leaders-to-bring-listening-into-their-organizations-that-have-real-impact-with-corine-jansen-part-2/
- Raquel's Listening Playgrounds https://listeningalchemy.com/listening-playgrounds/
- Rebel Wisdom https://rebelwisdom.co.uk/
BIOGRAPHY FROM RAQUEL
Born and raised in Puerto Rico and Ohio, USA and now living in Germany, Raquel has over 25 years’ experience managing, coaching, facilitating, and teaching in the communication field.
As founder of listening ALCHEMY, Raquel is very curious about the conditions and capacities to hold a listening space that connects and inspires.
She has been researching and experimenting with listening beyond traditional training, and has learned from and collaborated with listening scientists and professionals.
She hosts the listening SUPERPOWER podcast, which is focused on listening in teams and organisations beyond what we typically consider.