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Barbarah Nicoll Ed.D., is a 2025 graduate of the Ed.D. program in Educational and Professional Practice at Antioch University.
Dissertation Committee:
Roshmi Mishra, Ph.D., Committee Chair
Annie Smith, Ph.D., Committee Member
Fiona Hughes, M.D., Committee Member
Keywords
deep listening, Goethean conversation, afterimage, supersensible, anthroposophy, anthroposophical initiatives, listening workshops, poetic inquiry, social inquiry
Document Type
Dissertation
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
Goethe expressed his devotion to his scientific and artistic pursuits as “love” (Lambert, 2011, p. 35). Motivated by love for anthroposophical initiatives in the world, the research question for this dissertation is: can deep listening be a support for the organizational health and wellbeing of anthroposophical inspired initiatives? Exploring and examining research on listening attuned to anthroposophical initiatives, this research seeks to understand existing wisdom on listening and its impact on organizational wellbeing. The theoretical foundations for this research are based on anthroposophical insights and a Goethean worldview. These foundational concepts relate to indigenous ways of knowing through their acknowledgement of body, soul, and spirit, and the reciprocity of all life. This research seeks to determine if practice with listening styles and Goethean listening can add to the wellbeing of anthroposophical inspired organization life. The research specifically looked at the effect of listening as practiced in Goethean conversation with organizational leaders in relation to their role. The research methods were a series of listening workshops offered to Waldorf schools and a series of four Goethean conversations with eight school organizational leaders who participated in the listening workshops or received a detailed overview video of the listening workshops. The number of participants in the listening workshops was open; parents, faculty, administration, and board members were invited to participate in these workshops. Eighteen people participated in two online and two in-person workshops. Participants were a mix of Waldorf teachers, Waldorf school principals, parents, and board members. Data were collected with a quantitative survey given to workshop participants, and poetry as a data method for the Goethean conversation. Positive outcomes were reported for the listening workshops and Goethean conversations, surpassing the researchers’ hope for participants to experience increased skill in listening as a counterbalance to the tendency towards polarization occurring in Waldorf schools. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).
Recommended Citation
Nicoll, B. J. (2025). Motivated by Love: Can Deep Listening Support the Health and Wellbeing of Anthroposophical Inspired Organizations. https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/1132
Included in
Adult and Continuing Education Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Other Education Commons
Comments
ORCID No. 0009-0007-4190-6078
Bio:
I write poetry
really poetry writes me
through my listening
In the course of my life I have continuously been involved and devoted to research, learning, human development and community engagement. I have started and supported the development of schools, businesses, cooperatives, not for profit organizations, TEDx Talks, international youth exchanges, graduate program development and mentored adult learning at the Masters level since 2013. My completion of the EdD in Educational & Professional Practice, Waldorf Education program, Antioch University is a continuation of my formal studies.
My background includes a Master of Integrated Arts, Waldorf High School Teacher certification, BA General Studies, Liberating Structures training and practice, Expressive Arts certification, Youth Development diploma from Grant MacEwan College, Improvisation for the Classroom - Paul Sills and The Art of Facilitation Training with Caroline Estes of the Alpha Institute.
deep listening is inclusive
I’m making room for the other
and I see now that that other is also myself
inclusion is an act of intrinsic belonging
and so many things can stand in the way
in between you and I
in between myself and myself in the world
how can I approach the sanctuary of my own soul?
open and tender
the hand relaxed
the palm, soft and exposed
ready to receive
tenderly
quietly
expectantly
a delicious sacred homecoming
in a temple created over many lifetimes
always there for you
always open for you
always waiting for you
the doorway is your body
the door your own reflection
the threshold your emotions
your breath creates the floor under your feet