Stephen Covey once said, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”

He knew that listening to others involves much more than being quiet while they talk.

We have to stop focusing on what we want to say next and begin connecting with the person to whom we're listening.

Hello, I’m Mac Hammond, and this is the Winner’s Minute.

Communication remains essentially ineffective until we are able to connect with the other person’s heart—

and we can’t connect unless we listen. Listening provides the opportunity to find common ground. When we find common ground,

we can identify with people and respond meaningfully—and that’s when effective communication can truly take place.