backstory50: Lessons
Many, many years ago, I had an intern who was just so smart. She was creative, thoughtful, and had wonderful ideas. But she wasn’t so good at listening.
On the last day of her internship, I asked her to go for a walk with me. I thanked her for her time over the past semester and told her how much I enjoyed working with her. As we walked and talked, I said one of the important things that I wanted her to remember from our time together was the importance of allowing others to speak: “If you don’t spend time listening to others as they express their ideas to you—no one will want to hear what you have to say. And that would be a shame, because you have important things to say.”
I try to live this lesson myself, but it’s not always so easy
Tracy Fitzpatrick
Director, Neuberger Museum of Art
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