The Necessity of Listening Skills for Public Administration in the Era of Collaborative Governance
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Abstract
This article analyzes the importance of listening as an essential competency for public administrators in the era of collaborative governance. In a rapidly changing and complex context, public administration can no longer rely on command-and-control and one-way vertical communication; it requires collaborative leadership grounded in trust and two-way dialogue. Effective listening therefore becomes central to building cooperation across stakeholder networks. The article conceptualizes listening in three dimensions: a cognitive dimension that emphasizes questioning, paraphrasing, and summarizing; an emotional dimension that highlights calm presence, openness, and empathy; and a behavioral dimension expressed through nonverbal cues and constructive responses. It further delineates listening types such as active, empathic, and critical listening to show how practices vary by context. In addition, the article synthesizes thirteen attributes of good listeners - for example setting clear listening goals, avoiding interruptions, identifying core issues, and suspending judgment - which function as enabling factors for participation and shared understanding in policy processes. Overall, the analysis suggests that listening is not merely a technical skill but also a mindset and a proactive communicative process that must be cultivated continuously to make public administration under collaborative governance effective and sustainable.
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