262. listen

If you are proficient in your field, people will come to you with questions.

It’s likely that very early on in your conversation with these people, you will think you know what the problem is, feel the urge to speak up, and then offer a solution — because there is really no point in wasting more time on a simple fix, right?! Well, if you start to tell someone what they should be doing without the opportunity for them to be fully heard, then the chances are, they won’t feel heard and will likely not listen to your answer. Even if you’ve listened to similar problems a thousand times before, it’s only when the other person feels heard that the advice you provide can be fully recognized, accepted, and used to overcome the very unique issue to that specific person.

So, while it is true that people are coming to us because they are seeking knowledge, we must keep in mind that they are also coming to us with a need to be heard.