Stephen Covey emphasizes on LISTENING

I am reading Stephen R Covey`s bestseller, "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". Needless to mention, every sentence is so so so relevant!.
In his preface, he briefly touches upon communication under the heading: The hunger to be understood. I like his emphasis on the art of listening. Only if we learn the basic courtesy of actually listening and understanding what people around us are trying to tell us, life will be so much easier. Listening is a very important component of CONFLICT RESOLUTION and MEDIATION SKILLS. Giving people around you the benefit of knowing that you listened to them deeply and sincerely, is like expanding you circle of influence. It is an act of caring for others and respecting their thoughts. Whether family relations or corporate team work, listening is an art that can make or mar a leader.
Ciao!