Listening with only one objective - comprehension

 Here's an interesting clip of Kevin Sharer (who is CEO of biotech company Amgen) talking about listening. He says:

"For most of my career, I was an awful listener in almost every possible way.... My conversations were all about some concept of intellectual winning ... it was mostly because I was a striver, I wanted to get ahead, and getting ahead meant convincing people of my point of view."

He then talks about advice he heard about "listening with only one objective - comprehension" . That is, not being distracted prematurely (e.g. by preparing your next contribution to the conversation before you've heard the other guy's point fully). Worth 3 minutes to listen to  what he has to say, I think.

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Why_Im_a_listener_Amgen_CEO_Kevin_Sharer_2956