Is anyone listening?

Good teachers keep asking questions to see if pupils understand and to keep them thinking. Putting your thought in question form, instead of stating it bluntly, can open up deaf ears. People who get along with others seldom begin, “My advice to you is . . . “ or, “The fact is . . . “ Instead they ask, “Do you think it would help if . . . “ or, “What would happen if we . . . “ or, “Shall we talk about your . . . ?” Costly mistakes caused by poor listening have made many executives afraid of oral communication. Nevertheless, “Put it in writing” is the wrong rule for most situations. It’s easier to misread a written message than a spoken one.