You can’t truly help people or call yourself a partner if you don’t listen.
Sometimes, people just need to vent. They want to tell you what’s going on, they want to share their concerns and make sure you understand what pressure they’re under.
Your first response might be to help, or to offer solutions, or to defend yourself. That’s fine.
But first, just listen.
Take a deep breath, let them unleash, let them know you’ve heard their problem and take it seriously.
