What is a chapter about listening doing in a book about speaking? If you doubt the importance of listening while speaking, watch how talented speakers keep their eyes on their audience to determine whether they are being understood. Watch them stop and say something in a different way if the audience seems confused or uneasy. Watch them smile when audience members nod their heads. An audience of good listeners is a gift to speakers who want to connect with them by sharing a meaningful message. And a speaker who listens well is a gift to an audience who wants their needs and interests to be considered. No matter how separate or remote a speaker is from the audience, they are partners in a communication event.¹ Listening is a two-way street.