Extending civic values in architectures of listening: Arendt, Mouffe and the pluralistic imperative for organizational listening

ABSTRACT This conceptual paper introduces the concept of civic listening to augment organizational listening theory and practice. Drawing from critical theorists Arendt and Mouffe, it centers pluralism, agonism, deliberation, and reflection as central to listening and delineates the functions and values of civic listening to add to existing architectures. In doing so it provides additional guidance to help organizations (1) listen for what might be challenging for leaders to hear, (2) ensure values of deliberation and pluralism are enacted in listening contexts, and (3) help better triangulate organizational awareness among a diverse constellation of other organizations and stakeholders. Building on organizational listening scholarship that addresses the potential for the concept’s contributions to democratic society, this new perspective points toward deeper, more nuanced, and more equitable organizational engagement in civic discourse and firmer ground for contentious issue involvement. It introduces five critical values within an architecture of civic listening to guide practice: “other” orientation, pluralistic engagement, harmony over consensus, reflective processes, and social problem-solving focus.