Seek first to understand, then to be understood from "summary" of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Many people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. They are either speaking or preparing to speak. They filter everything through their own paradigms, reading their autobiography into other people's lives. When another person speaks, they are often thinking about how they are going to respond, rather than focusing on truly understanding the other person's perspective. This habit, or lack thereof, is the basis for almost all communication breakdowns. If we want to effectively communicate with others, we must first seek to deeply understand them. This means putting aside our own biases, judgments, and preconceived notions, and truly stepping into the other person's shoes. It requires us to listen with an open mind and an open heart, seeking to understand not only the words being said but a...
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