In the forward to Mark Goulston’s book, Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone, Keith Ferrazzi reminds us we are not powerless when someone just won’t listen…

Managers, CEOs, and salespeople often tell me, “Talking to soand-so [sic] is like hitting a brick wall.”

When I hear those words, I reply: “Stop hitting your head against the wall and look for the loose brick.” Find that loose brick—what the other person really needs from you—and you can pull down the strongest barriers and connect with people in ways you never thought possible. (Goulston, 2009, Foreward, para. 1-2)