Sometimes, the best thing you can do is listen. Whether you’re in a meeting with colleagues all raising their hands to talk at the same time, on a first date, or sitting in a cafe with a laptop and a lukewarm coffee, hoping for inspiration to strike, often the way to break move you can make is to sit back, take a deep breath, and listen.
If you’re not used to leaning back and listening—resisting the urge to respond or add your two cents, and just let the listening portion be the main event—try it. It’s a refreshing change, and one that can lead to fresh thoughts and new ideas.