The Most Underrated Skill I’ve Learned This Year

It took me a while to realise this, but the most underrated skill I’ve learned this year isn’t something flashy or technical: it’s listening. Not the surface-level kind where you nod along while thinking of your reply, but the kind that requires your full presence. True listening. I used to think that speaking up, making a point, and always having something clever to say was a sign of confidence. But I’ve learned that silence, paired with attention, often speaks louder.

This shift didn’t happen all at once. It started in small moments like when I stayed quiet just a little longer during a conversation, or when I re-read a message instead of rushing to respond. I noticed how often people just want to feel understood. And I noticed how many misunderstandings in life happen only because we’re too eager to answer, defend, or prove. Listening changed that.

It’s strange how such a basic thing, which is something we’re all capable of can be so overlooked. In meetings, listening helped me catch the details others often miss. In collaborations, it built trust. In conflict, it lightened the tension. And in everyday life, it made me more empathetic, more grounded, and more curious.

The best part? This skill doesn't need a course or certification. Just presence. And practice of course. It’s a quiet superpower that sharpens everything else around it: understanding, timing, creativity, and even leadership. In a loud world, the ability to deeply listen might be one of the rarest and most valuable things one can offer