Days ago, I participated in a video conference with several other consulting partners across the globe on a project for a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) client. It was our second meeting, and the agenda's focus was mind-mapping per data we'd received.
Whilst the majority of us asked questions or attempted to clarify strategies to date, one individual kept jumping in with "You should do" recommendations. On the third occasion, the team member quietly disappeared from our screens.
I've addressed the art of listening on several occasions, particularly with respect to how it facilitates productive exchange and the ability to deliver useful and effective advice to clients. A well placed "Have you already considered...?" will go a much longer way towards engaging and garnering important feedback than continually making redundant suggestions and wasting everyone's time.