If you're in sales, you've probably heard that “listening is a critical skill.”
But what does that really mean in today’s age of distraction, noise, and nonstop multitasking?

To explore this, I had the privilege of speaking with Rebecca Shafir, author of the bestselling book 'The Zen of Listening', speech/language pathologist, executive function & ADHD coach, and business consultant. In our conversation, we covered:

• How The Zen of Listening came to life — and why it still feels fresh and relevant, 25 years later.
• The overlooked concept of “listening to ourselves” — and why it’s a key preparation step for truly hearing others.
• How salespeople can improve their listening skills, even in high-pressure, high-volume environments.
• What to do when buyers come to the table already overwhelmed with conflicting information — and how to break through that paralysis.
• Simple, actionable practices for making listening a competitive advantage in a one-hour sales conversation.

In a world where everyone is trying to talk louder, Rebecca reminds us that real influence starts with quiet attention.