APAD: Keep your mouth shut and your ears open.

Keep your mouth shut and your ears open.

This proverb advises that one should listen more than they speak. It is essential to pay attention to what others are saying to gain knowledge and understanding.

Despite the fact that we have two ears and only one mouth! But uttering words sometimes gives us the illusion of confidence or of being in command. Ultimately, having the mouth open is understood as having power.

And yet, it is listening rather than talking, that holds the power to bring about change. By concentrating on what and how the speakers are saying, how their face and body react, you gain a far deeper understanding of them. When engaged in mindful listening, your comments are designed to help clarify what is being said, prompt further reflection, guide people through their thinking process. The solutions have to be theirs - the penny has to drop in their mind, not yours.