From this article:

Next time you have a meeting, just survey the event. Who is talking? Who is really listening? Who is swimming in their own thoughts?

This post bemoans the ‘lost art’ of listening and recommends a book about active listening. I haven’t read this particular book, but I can attest to the power of active listening. It turns out that an excellent way to get someone to hear your point is to first convince them that you’ve really heard theirs. What’s more, sometimes other people’s ideas are better than yours!