Another interesting “active listening” technique that I’ve learned by observation is: reframing a statement as a question. in other words, Ask, Don’t Tell. For example: if you “ask” someone when something should be completed, instead of “telling” them when it’s due, you will get a much more thoughtful/active response. You also don’t take ownership away from the other person. (You do want them to take ownership and not come to you with every problem or question, right?) Continue reading →

I learned a new acronym last year that may help me become a better listener and better interviewer. WAIT means “Why am I Talking”. In other words, ask yourself if you should be listening instead of talking. It’s an important part of our jobs as web design, developers, and managers (or any job really) to deliver a solution that both meets the client’s needs and our own self-expectations. We can’t interpret our client’s needs if we don’t listen, repeat what we heard, and narrow the scope down to the essential parts crucial to success. Continue reading →