Today, I saw how important it was to listen to someone. Yes, even if they are rambling on and on and you know a lot of information about it. When you don’t listen, you really don’t know what the question she really wants to ask is. What it comes back to is ‘assessment’.

You must assess the situation. What does this person know, and what does he want to know? Often times, a person doesn’t really understand what he knows and doesn’t know, so really listening to him will allow you to figure out what it is he is really trying to ask, for you to properly answer the question, and for him to feel a piece of mind that he was heard completely through and not interrupted.

This is even more important when time is short. Why? Because when you ‘think’ you know what they are asking and you answer it without feeling assessing his question, then you will give information that is not what he is seeking for and he will consume more time to ask the same question again. It’s really best to listen to the person the first time all the way through. Be patient.

And look at someone in the eye when you speak. It helps.