‘Dynamic Listening’: New Book by Wittenborg Professor Aims to Improve Relationships

13.05.2025

Colin MacKenzie Draws Inspiration from Work in Teaching and Consultancy

In a world overwhelmed by noise and information overload, learning to listen dynamically is more important than ever. To address this need, Wittenborg Associate Professor Colin MacKenzie has recently released his self-published book, ‘Dynamic Listening’. The work is largely grounded in MacKenzie’s experiences in teaching and consulting, as well as his research on the subject.

According to the author, most people never really think about listening because they already assume they are good listeners. “Most of us have a friend who does all the talking and never or rarely asks questions. If they do ask a question they do not really listen. I admit I used to be like that. I’m not a natural listener and really must continually remind myself of the different listening dimensions and show that I’m truly interested in what they are saying,” he says.

MacKenzie points out that his book is written with reflective learning in mind. This includes not only exercises but also a method of receiving feedback, transforming this skill into a habit.

The author comments that he has been teaching listening skills to master’s students for several years and was already familiar with much of the material included in ‘Dynamic Listening’. “However, when I am teaching conversational techniques to sales students, it is obvious that something is missing: effective listening and listening with a clear purpose. After conducting a general session during Wittenborg's Project Week, there was so much fun, hilarity and feedback from the students that I was inspired to complete the book and include some of my reflections from many years of observation.”

MacKenzie concludes by underlining that writing this book has helped him develop his own understanding of relationships, which he hopes to share with students. “The book is relevant for those seeking to improve their communication skills, particularly in areas like business and leadership, but also in personal contexts. It aims to help readers understand others more effectively and build stronger relationships, by adopting dynamic listening, which includes active and empathic listening.”

‘Dynamic Listening’ is available in both eBook and print formats on Amazon. MacKenzie has also edited and co-written ‘Sales Insights: Wise words for beginners in Business-to-Business sales’ with Wittenborg Associate Professor Alexander Bauer.