Many, though by no means all, of his current advisers are indeed sound, and the evidence from his time governing California and from what the more impressive of them say is that his greatest quality is to be a good listener though not to the legislature, which he treated with disdain.

ECONOMIST: From the archive

In the years since their first conversation, during the Compaq acquisition, Keyworth and Kawamoto had spoken often by telephone, and he had found her to be a sympathetic listener, especially while his wife was ill with terminal cancer.

NEWYORKER: The Kona Files

Did you resolve to be a better, more authentic listener in 2013?

FORBES: Three Leadership Renewals for 2013 Move Us from Resolution to Realization

The BBC Asian Network, which will also be abolished, spends as much to entertain a radio listener for an hour as BBC One spends to entertain a television viewer for an hour.

ECONOMIST: Cutting the BBC: No surrender | The

It would, after all, be more difficult for the listener to screen out than the visual adverts seen on a conventional site.

ECONOMIST: A web of sound

Becoming a better listener requires understanding what is involved in listening and developing the necessary techniques to be silent and listen.

FORBES: Leadership: Building Trust Means Better Listening