The ability to let others talk and not interrupt them is a skill that you must practice on a daily basis. This allows us to see more of the other person rather than ourselves.
Back in the 1990s, a woman naming Betty Bigombe was able to befriend a warlord by providing an opportunity for them to share their views. Betty Bigombe became Uganda's Woman of the Year for having initiated the peace talks to put an end to the violence between Kony and the Ugandan president and its people.

The Importance of Listening

"Even the devil appreciates being listened to."

When other people come to us and say that they have a problem, for most of us, the first instinct is to think about how to solve their problem instead of letting them solve it on their own. The desire to fix other's problems and offer answers instead of listening attentively to the other person is called the righting reflex.
People who open up want to feel empathy from the other person and to also not be judged for their situation. This makes them less anxious and defensive.

The Righting Reflex

"Many communicators try to make themselves look smart. Great listeners are more interested in making their audiences feel smart."

The story of how this politician won over a warlord contains a lesson that we could all learn from, says organizational psychologist Adam Grant.

The Righting Reflex

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