Corporate Learning with Jardine

About Corporate Learning with Jardine

Corporate Learning Excerpts for Learning Organizations offer bite-sized learnings from some of my Corporate Training Workshops on Communication, Etiquette, Customer Service, Sales, Management and Leadership. Speaker's Profile : https://www.proficiopx.com/proficiopx-director-jardine-ong

Publisher

Jardine Ong

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Jul 2021

Latest episode

6 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

60 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2025

   Corporate Reflections : The Gift of Listening

   This reflection on the "simple art of listening" is inspired by core concepts across communication theory, psychology, and humanistic philosophy, emphasizing empathy, presence, and genuine connection :•  Active Listening (Carl Rogers) : This is the most direct inspiration. It's defined as a communication technique requiring the listener to fully concentrate, understand, respond, and remember what is being said. The reflection's description—"not waiting for your turn to speak," and "fully present"—is the classic definition of Active Listening.  The practice was formalized by humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers and Richard Farson in the mid-20th century. Rogers centered his client-centered therapy on the therapist's ability to demonstrate unconditional positive regard and empathic understanding through listening, which is reflected in the idea that listening is saying, "You matter."•  Empathy and Perspective-Taking : Listening is framed as a "practice of empathy" that requires setting aside "own biases" and opening one's heart to another's perspective.  This ties directly to social-emotional learning and psychology. Truly listening is the mechanism through which we enact Theory of Mind—the ability to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and intentions different from our own. •  Presence and Mindfulness : Listening requires being "fully present" and demands "patience and presence." This is a call to focus attention on the here and now, resisting the "world filled with noise" and internal distraction.  Mindfulness practices (rooted in Buddhist philosophy) advocate for non-judgmental awareness of the present moment. The challenge to stop "formulating your response" and to "set aside our own agenda" is a call for mindful conversation.•  Confirmation Theory (The "You Matter" Principle) : The idea that truly listening is a "profound gift" that makes the speaker feel "seen," "respected," and "valued."  This aligns with Confirmation Theory in communication, pioneered by figures like Paul Watzlawick. This theory posits that relationships are built on communication that confirms the other person's existence, identity, and validity. A genuine listening ear is one of the most powerful forms of confirmation.

2. 

   5 Oct 2025

   Corporate Reflections : The Courage To Start Over

   The reflection you've provided is deeply inspired by key concepts from Psychology (specifically Positive Psychology) and Philosophy (especially Stoicism) : 1.  The Concept of Resilience :  In modern psychology, resilience is a primary concept, often defined as :  •  Positive Adaptation Despite Adversity : The ability to "successfully adapt to difficult or challenging life experiences" and "bounce back" from setbacks. Your reflection embraces this by defining starting over not as a failure, but as an act of courage and strength.•  "Bouncing Forward" (Post-Traumatic Growth): This is a more modern take on resilience, suggesting that overcoming a challenge doesn't just return you to the status quo, but instead leads to a new level of growth and a "more authentic future." This is exactly what the reflection suggests when it states, "They were opportunities to use the wisdom gained from the past to build a better and more authentic future."2. Stoic PhilosophyThe philosophical school of Stoicism provides the bedrock for the argument about controlling one's response to events.•  The Dichotomy of Control: Stoics like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius taught that the path to a good life is to focus solely on what is within your power to control (your judgments, your choices, your actions) and to accept what is not (external events, other people's opinions, past failures).  This principle is applied by framing the decision to start over as a courageous choice ("a brave choice to honor your growth") that is fully within the individual's control, rather than dwelling on the uncontrollable external factors (the "society that values linear progress").•  Adversity as Fuel for Virtue: Stoicism views challenges as necessary training. Seneca famously suggested that a strong person should be "trained for in advance" for suffering.  The idea that "whatever fails is fuel" (a common modern Stoic mantra) is mirrored by the statement, "They were opportunities to use the wisdom gained from the past." The setback is not wasted; it's a valuable input for the new beginning.3. Existential and Humanistic ThoughtThe emphasis on personal authenticity and creation of meaning aligns with modern humanistic and existential thinkers.•  Authenticity and Self-Alignment: The line, "to create a life that truly aligns with who you are today," speaks directly to the concept of authenticity, a core theme in Existentialism (e.g., Jean-Paul Sartre or Søren Kierkegaard). This idea encourages choosing a path that reflects your current, evolving self, even if it defies societal expectations of a "perfect, uninterrupted life path."•  Growth and Change: The final metaphor—"the most beautiful gardens don't grow without first pulling the weeds and replanting the seeds"—is a powerful summary of the human capacity for growth through destruction and renewal, an idea common in many schools of thought focused on personal development.By combining the practicality of Stoicism with the focus on growth and self-discovery from modern Psychology, this reflection transforms the stigma of "starting over" into a profound statement of courage, resilience, and personal integrity.

3. 

   5 Oct 2025

   Corporate Reflections : The Power of The Pause

   The reflection on the power of the pause and silence, inspired by the critique of constant activity and the valuing of intentional stillness : •  The Power of Non-Action (Wu Wei : Greatest power lies in "being" (intentional stillness) rather than compulsive "doing."  Taoism (Lao Tzu), which advocates for effortless action and alignment with the natural flow.•  Mindfulness and Presence : The pause is where clarity and true insight live; a moment to process and connect ideas.  Buddhism/Mindfulness practices, which teach the importance of non-judgmental awareness of the present moment.•  Rhetorical Silence (The Pause) : Silence is a deliberate tool for control, anticipation, and allowing key ideas to resonate with an audience.  Classical Rhetoric (Aristotle) and principles of effective public speaking/delivery, which use controlled pauses for impact.•  Systemic Processing : The pause allows the brain to move from a rushed, reactive state to a thoughtful, meaningful response. Cognitive Psychology (Daniel Kahneman) and the distinction between fast, intuitive thinking (System 1) and slow, deliberate thinking (System 2).  The pause is a testament to confidence, showing one is in control of the moment, rather than being fearful of the void.  Principles of Executive Presence and Self-Regulation.