When Silence Speaks: Transforming Turbulent Times Through Deep Listening with Martin Farrell

Too many leaders miss the opportunity to have impact when it truly matters: the transformation that takes place when someone feels genuinely heard. This is especially important during turbulent times. It’s not just about reacting to a crisis, it’s about pausing for a moment to listen deeply. Without it, leaders risk isolation, poor decisions, and missed opportunities.

Martin Farrell, crisis coach and bestselling author of “Good Leaders in Turbulent Times: How to Navigate Wild Waters at Work,” reveals how listening becomes a lifejacket for leaders navigating chaos. Drawing on decades of global experience with organizations like the British Red Cross and UN Climate Change Secretariat, Martin shares the pivotal moments and practical strategies that help leaders spot early warning signs, create safe spaces for tough conversations, and transform crisis into connection and growth.

In this episode, discover the story behind the ‘penny drop’ moment, when someone knows they’re truly understood. Martin gives insight on subtle warning signs before a crisis occurs and also shares excerpts from 138  pieces of his advice in his book. Learn how mastering listening in turbulent times can turn wild waters into opportunities for lasting impact.

“Do we want to react and retaliate, or do you reflect and respond?” – Martin Farrell

SUPERPOWER Notes:

02:45 – What he realized the time he first noticed the power of listening: Working with coach Nancy Klein for 14 years, where she would listen for an hour and a half with complete presence, even during his silent moments and times of distress

06:30 – The transformative experience of being truly heard: How Nancy Klein’s listening created a space where he felt special and important in that moment, demonstrating the profound impact of dedicated attention

08:15 – Supporting leaders in crisis: His work with UK charity chief executives who were at risk of losing their jobs, providing support “until the end of the chapter” through primarily listening rather than advice-giving

11:20 – The power of being present in wild waters: Using the metaphor of someone in wild waters with crocodiles around, and how having someone experienced nearby who won’t drown provides crucial support

14:30 – From crisis support to storytelling: How his current work involves interviewing people who’ve processed their experiences to create anonymous advice for others still in crisis

17:45 – The journey of writing “Good Leaders in Turbulent Times”: How the book took eight years to complete with six different manuscripts, and the importance of authentic vulnerability in helping others

22:10 – Career background in civil society: Six decades of working in charitable organizations, from teenage years through international work with UN agencies and climate change initiatives

26:40 – The book’s unique structure: Five chapters featuring nine characters over seven years, showing the progression from missing warning signs to integration and wisdom

29:15 – Chapter one – missing the signs: How all the warning signs were present but the characters weren’t listening to or acting upon them, using the powerful question “What do you know now that you will discover in a year’s time?”

32:50 – Listening to weak signals: The importance of becoming adept at noticing and paying attention to early warning signs before they become crises

35:20 – The 138 pieces of advice: Four categories throughout the book – watch out (red flags), remember this (truths to hold onto), consider this (suggestions for action), and secret sauce (personal stories)

38:45 – Theory U and letting go/letting come: How silence and stillness are essential for touching the source of inner knowledge and emerging possibilities

42:30 – Practical advice for listening to inner signals: Go sit by a river or in a quiet place, use scrap paper for uncensored writing, and allow the process to unfold over 8-9 pages until clarity emerges

46:15 – The “no mud, no lotus” principle: How working with distress and discomfort can produce beautiful outcomes when you know how to process them effectively

48:20 – Developing your support network: The importance of having trusted people around you before crisis hits, and Martin’s participation in seven different support groups

51:30 – Live Well, Die Wise grief circles: Creating ceremonial safe spaces with candles, poems, and intentional grounding to allow deep sharing and discovery

53:45 – How to connect with Martin Farrell

Key Takeaways:

 “My ultimate freedom is to respond to whatever you do to me.” – Martin Farrell

“Here is someone who had no agenda other than being with them and listening. And that was powerful.” – Martin Farrell

“Even if you’re not naturally interested in other people, you can fake it till you make it. Start being interested, and then you get more interested.” – Martin Farrell

“Particularly with those who are in distress, that is an enormous gift… I noticed the power of being there. I was going to say just being there, but it’s not just, it’s being there and being present.” – Martin Farrell

Notes/Mentions:

• Nancy Klein (Martin’s coach for 14 years)- https://www.timetothink.com/ 
• Theory U and Otto Scharmer’s Presencing Institute https://www.presencing.org/theoryu 
• Live Well, Die Wise grief circles
• Deep Adaptation Forum
• Steven Appleby (illustrator of 41 drawings in the book)

“Good Leaders in Turbulent Times: How to Navigate Wild Waters at Work” by Martin Farrell: https://mybook.to/GoodLeaders and https://practicalinspiration.com/book/good-leaders-in-turbulent-times

 

Connect with Martin Farrell:

• Website: https://www.martinfarrell.org/ 
• Substack: https://martin228.substack.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martingfarrell 

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