RULE 64
Know when to listen and when to act
I don’t know if it’s harder for us chaps to learn this one but I find it tough. Whenever anyone has a problem, I want to rush off and do something. Doesn’t really matter what, just so long as I am doing something, anything.
In actual fact what is often required of me is that I sit down and listen. I am not being told troubles and problems just so I can be all macho and rescue someone or leap to their defence or single-handedly take on the world for them (in fact be a hero). What is needed is a sympathetic ear, a shoulder perhaps to cry on, an ‘Oh, that must be awful for you’ sort of response, a counsellor’s approach and a full and rapt attention with eye contact. That’s the tricky bit. As soon as ...
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