Talk less, listen more. When you try to persuade people, you can spend too much time explaining your position, and not enough time asking questions, listening, and understanding other points of view. Your colleagues are less likely to resist when they feel you’ve taken the time to acknowledge their concerns. In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey says that the greatest need of human beings—after physical survival—is to be understood, affirmed, and appreciated. He
