"My boss asked me to manage a project that involved various tasks I had never done before, including running new reports that would aid in solving a consistent customer problem we had encountered. After my boss communicated the main issues clients were experiencing, I made sure I understood what she needed of me by asking straightforward questions that got to the crux of the issue, including 'So what you're asking is...?,' 'Do you mean that you need me to do (X)?,' and 'What do you think about (X) approach?' When navigating new territory, I found it helpful to include active clarifying questions in my listening approach. I jumped on the project right away, and my boss was impressed with the solution I designed."

"I worked with a client awhile back who was extremely difficult to please. She was worried about her company's marketing efforts, and previous colleagues on my team were unsuccessful in satisfying her. I set up a few one-on-one meetings with her where I learned that she did not feel like she was being heard on her team or in these meetings with my colleagues. Thus, I made it my primary goal to engage in active listening with her and carefully address each of her concerns. Ultimately, we had a great working relationship, and her satisfaction increased drastically over the course of a few months."