Is Listening Effective Only if the Speaker Takes Action?

Often, a speaker reaches a different place of understanding inside him/herself after having had a chance to speak with the help of a good listener.  Does action result from that new place?  It is a key “so what?” question about listening.  Was the listening simply a nice exercise for the speaker, a “feel good?”  Or was the self-expression meaningful in the sense that the speaker’s opportunity to find or to clear up something important will lead to action?

Ed