“Trampoline Listeners” are folks who do not just absorb instructions or stimuli from their surroundings. “Trampoline listeners” reciprocate that stimuli by giving back sustainable energy into the environment. They create value by challenging, agreeing, and adding to the original stimuli they absorbed. Simply put, they don’t settle. They improve upon, they build upon, they create value.
Before we dive deeper into "trampoline listeners,” let’s first talk about the trampoline. If you have kids like me, you know how a quick visit to a trampoline park would instantly create joy in the hearts of every child. It’s also a great way to burn-up much energy from our bundles of joy to help them wind down to get ready for a good night’s sleep. Though it seems like a great idea for us to have a trampoline at home, our homeowners association does not allow it!
Let’s talk about the sciences behind trampolines and how they correlate to becoming trampoline listeners in any situation.
KINETIC ENERGY < > POTENTIAL ENERGY
Ultimately, your total energy is the sum of your kinetic energy and your potential energy. The jumping motion on trampolines is the transformation of energy, from kinetic to potential energy.
Kinetic energy is possessed by any object in motion. In our trampoline scenario, it’s at its highest as an object (your child) is about to touch the surface of the trampoline on the way down, and as it leaves the surface going up. In terms of “trampoline listeners,” the highest point of this type of energy is when the message being relayed to the listener is about to hit their consciousness. The only way it can evolve to an equal amount of energy is if that message is propelled back with the same amount of energy. In the formula of Kinetic Energy below, Mass (M) can represent the message, while Velocity (V) represents the intention of engaging the message with the same amount of energy back to the other party. Multiplying V to itself (^2) can represent that the listener giving the energy back also represents many like them in the organization.
Kinetic Energy = 1/2(mass)(velocity^2)
Potential energy is the energy any object has relative to its position to another object. In this post, the two objects are the receiver of the message and the giver of the message. The formula for potential energy depends on the force acting upon it. For this narrative, we’ll assume that gravitational force is the factor. In the equation below, Mass (M) is our message, Gravity (G) is our constant force that represents the value of the message being conveyed, and Height (H) is the area in which the message has to travel through. We’ll discuss the H in the next paragraph. Many of us know that Gravity is constant at the surface of Earth at 9.8 m/s^2. For this discussion, Gravity is the value of your message. We’re always in assumption that you have the right intentions for your message. If you don’t, we have bigger problems than not having trampoline listeners. Like in the scientific equation, without Gravity, you won’t have the force that would keep the M (mass or your message) from going back and forth. The value of the message is key for it to sustain any momentum moving forward.
Potential Energy = (mass)(gravity)(height)
As leaders, the space between us and those around us (H) is an important area of consideration when delivering our message. For a clear and effective delivery, consumption, and reciprocation of your message, you’ll need to be in the environment that allows that. That environment can be of different forms. It could be your company’s culture, your overall demeanor, even the technology. Is your means of delivering message technologically an effective way to avoid miscommunication? Does it allow open dialogue? Is it equipped to be a vehicle of quick feedback and open dialogue? Are you perceived as an open leader, who entertains ideas from others? Is your company’s culture one that encourages dialogue?
Hooke’s Law + Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion
Now that we know the value of Kinetic and Potential Energy to this topic, let’s now talk about Hooke’s Law and how it relates to Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion. Hooke’s Law pertains to the value the springs bring into trampolines. Without the springs, the sustained bounce will not happen. Thus, Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion. In my view, the springs in Hooke’s Law represents the listener’s curiosity, desire to learn more, and their full intention to create value by challenging or building upon the original message. Without those springs, all you have are absorbers. Any message sent towards absorbers will probably listen and digest the information, but the information will not evolve to something greater. The only way the evolution will happen if equal force is returned by the listener to spark curiosity, to challenge the message, and to come-up with an evolved outcome. Without this reciprocal act, the message stops and dies. That’s how ideas and cultures don’t flourish. Maintaining a culture within the company doesn’t mean sticking to how things were done from the birth of the organization. The only way to allow that culture to thrive and live-on is by constant processing of this culture relative to the changing workplace, marketplace, and yes, even technology.
Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion = For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Conclusion
Trampoline listeners are not one party in an organization. This is a multilateral position. Each individual in the organization — from the top executives down to the individual contributors, need to be trampoline listeners. Ideas don’t travel on a one-way street. Ideas are everywhere. Every Fortune 500 companies, especially those within the “Best Companies to Work For,” have fortified avenues for every voice to be heard. I’ve seen companies spend so much money making sure of this. They even hire third-party firms to ensure such engagement is happening. Having trampoline listeners across the organization is an imperative for continued growth and relevance.