In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Jeffrey Yip, a leadership professor at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business and creator of the “Listen and Build” framework.

They explore why listening, not speaking, is a leader’s most powerful tool. Drawing on years of research, Jeff explains how genuine listening builds trust, strengthens teams, and transforms leadership effectiveness. He shares stories from his early military service in Singapore and mentoring youth through the YMCA, illustrating how empathy and curiosity help leaders navigate differences and create connection.

Jeff also unpacks practical tools, such as the “Three Rs” of listening: Regulate, Relate, and Reason, that help leaders diffuse conflict, increase engagement, and foster inclusion in today’s fast-changing workplaces.

Listeners will take away actionable insights, including:

• How to shift from “Chief Speaking Officer” to “Chief Listening Officer.”
• The difference between perceived and true listening.
• Simple daily habits to strengthen emotional intelligence.

Join us in this conversation to learn why listening is a skill every leader can develop and how it can become your superpower.

Connect with Jeffrey Yip:

• LinkedIn
• Website Listeningworks.ca
• Psychology Today Blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/listen-and-build
• Harvard Business Review article on Listening: https://hbr.org/2025/05/are-you-really-a-good-listener