--- title: Listening Architecturally description: What does it mean to listen architecturally? It means beginning to listen bravely. image: https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/March%20Post%20-%20DGI%20Blog%20Post%20Image.png --- ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) - [ABOUT US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - What is Process Consulting? - [MEET US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Areas of Specialty - Meet Our Process Consultants - Meet our Partners and Senior Consultants - Meet our Consultants - [Maestro-level leaders](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Society for Process Consulting](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Culture Change Leadership](https://www.acausegreater.org/) - [BE A CONSULTANT ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Explore Process Consulting - Community of Practice - Shared Platform - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - [RESOURCES ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Blog Library - Books - Podcasts - Cohorts - Case Studies - [ABOUT US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - What is Process Consulting? - [MEET US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Areas of Specialty - Meet Our Process Consultants - Meet our Partners and Senior Consultants - Meet our Consultants - [Maestro-level leaders](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Society for Process Consulting](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Culture Change Leadership](https://www.acausegreater.org/) - [BE A CONSULTANT ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Explore Process Consulting - Community of Practice - Shared Platform - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - [RESOURCES ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/javascript;) - Blog Library - Books - Podcasts - Cohorts - Case Studies Get Started # Listening Architecturally ![Kate Frillmann](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/2021_Consultant%20Photos/Kate%20Frillmann%20Headshot%20300x300.png) by [Kate Frillmann](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/author/kate-frillmann) March 03, 2021 ![March Post - DGI Blog Post Image](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/March%20Post%20-%20DGI%20Blog%20Post%20Image.png?width=1600&name=March%20Post%20-%20DGI%20Blog%20Post%20Image.png) *For there is always light* *if only we're brave enough to see it* *If only we're brave enough to be it.* *Amanda Gorman* *What does it mean to listen architecturally? * *It means beginning to listen bravely. * An organizational leader that I was working with knew that he needed to raise philanthropic funds for his organization to thrive and grow, but they historically had struggled in this area. He shared numerous reasons why this had occurred in the past, and many were reasonable. Now they needed to figure out how to move into the future with a reliable and successful plan to raise funds. This is where I came in. We set about crafting a road map together. We became the architects of a process to move their organization forward and address the presenting issue of needing to raise funds. To be the most significant help to the organization, it was essential that I really listened to what the leader said was needed (raising funds) and what the leader was willing and able to do at that point. Was he ready to meet with people to share the organization's vision and invite their philanthropic investment? Was he willing to invest in the time and dedication this required? Was he even comfortable doing this? If there was hesitance, what could we build together to move this leader into a place of confidence and bravery to step outside his comfort zone? But first, he had to listen to himself, internally, to recognize a potential barrier to achieving the organization's goal. He knew there were people in the community who would believe in their mission and want to support them, which was what the organization so needed to flourish. But was he brave enough to not only see it but also be it? What would it take to empower him to meet with donors and share the organization's critical mission? I could have given him the steps of best practices to raise funds and then wonder months later why they weren't being fully implemented had we not spent time building a process that met him where he was at and addressed any hesitation or barriers that existed. This can take more time, but in the end, the leader and the organization will be further along. By listening with empathy, we encourage leaders to bravely listen to themselves and identify what may be an underlying issue, preventing them from achieving their goal. ![DGI - Core Competencies_Listening Architecturally](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DGI%20-%20Core%20Competencies_Listening%20Architecturally.png?width=350&name=DGI%20-%20Core%20Competencies_Listening%20Architecturally.png) I invite you to begin to listen architecturally. It's not easy, but with the right people alongside you, those who are truly listening and helping you reflect, it is achievable not only to see the light but be the light for your organization. *Walking alongside you,* ![Kate Frillmann Signature](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kate%20Frillmann%20Signature.png?width=128&name=Kate%20Frillmann%20Signature.png) [![Kate Frillmann Headshot 300x300](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2021_Consultant%20Photos/Kate%20Frillmann%20Headshot%20300x300.png?width=86&name=Kate%20Frillmann%20Headshot%20300x300.png)Kate Frillmann](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/about-kate-frillmann) *Design Group International* *Senior Design Consultant * Dig Deeper: *Want to explore more on this topic? Take a look at these resources:* - [Humble Consulting: How to Provide Real Help Faster](https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/47078619-humble-consulting-how-to-provide-real-help-faster) – Edgar H. Schein - [True Leaders Listen](https://jeremiahlukebarnett.medium.com/edgar-h-schein-humble-inquiry-true-leaders-listen-887357393a81) – Jeremiah Luke Barnett - [The Listening Post: New ideas in effective philanthropy](https://hewlett.org/the-listening-post/) - [The Third Turn Podcast: Episode 15 - Charitable Intentions and the Third Turn Leader](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/mark-l-vincent-blog/episode-15-third-turn-podcast-recap) *Process Consulting competencies identified and implemented through the [Society for Process Consulting](https://www.societyforprocessconsulting.com/).*   ###### Tags: [process consulting, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/process-consulting) [philanthropy, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/philanthropy) [Design Group International, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/design-group-international) [development, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/development) [nonprofits, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/nonprofits) [listening, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/listening) [helping, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/helping) [learning, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/learning) [Ed Schein, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/ed-schein) [organizational consulting, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/organizational-consulting) [business consulting, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/business-consulting) [Walking Alongside Blog](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/tag/walking-alongside-blog) ![Kate Frillmann](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/2021_Consultant%20Photos/Kate%20Frillmann%20Headshot%20300x300.png) Post by [Kate Frillmann](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/listening-helping-learning/author/kate-frillmann) March 3, 2021 Advancement professional with significant experience focused on strategic planning, major and planned gifts, team management, program marketing, volunteer leadership, and corporate giving. Certified Fundraising Professional (CFRE) designation. [Follow me on my website](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/about-kate-frillmann) [Follow me on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-frillmann-cfre-2364386/) ### Comments ![Copy of Listening Helping Learning Blog Logo](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%20Listening%20Helping%20Learning%20Blog%20Logo.png?width=2000&height=1714&name=Copy%20of%20Listening%20Helping%20Learning%20Blog%20Logo.png) ### Subscribe Now! #### Listening, Helping, Learning... At Design Group International, our core values in process consulting are listening, helping, and learning. We use these competencies as we work alongside our clients to co-design solutions that support leaders and their organizations. Through our process consulting communities' writings, they will share insights on what they hear, how they help, and what they learn. 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