It Pays To Listen

Listening is one of the best ways to learn. When you're doing all the talking, you are learning nothing. Just pretending to listen, when you're actually trying to think of what you can say next, is not enough. You must really listen, with the goal of understanding the speaker.

And there is another powerful benefit to listening. It builds tremendous rapport. People love to talk about themselves, their work, their ideas, their opinions.

When you listen, and are genuinely interested in what someone else is saying, they will come away from the encounter with a very good impression of you.

Listening carefully, and asking questions that convey your sincere interest, will leave a better impression than anything you could possibly say.

-Ralph Marston