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Organisations can foster greater employee engagement and improve innovation and performance if they shift from a passive to active "listening climate", according to new research.

Culture is complex and evolves slowly, but climate can change more quickly, organisational development specialist Mike Pounsford, internal communications researcher Kevin Ruck and employee engagement consultant Howard Krais say in their new book, Leading the listening organisation.

The authors describe "climate" as the current environment and "immediate working conditions" while culture is "more intangible" and "focuses more on enduring and long-term values, rituals, and traditions".

"Climate affects wellbeing, satisfaction, and short-term performance; culture shapes behaviour and longer-term decision-making processes", they say...