There are many reasons to listen to someone’s story.

All are based on care.

Caring to hear the story someone wants to share.

Caring to learn the reasons why this story is important in that situation.

Caring to see how this story fits into the context the listener and the storyteller share.

Caring to help that person develop what he wants to do with his experience.

Caring to figure out if that person needs and wants help to deal with this experience.

Applying all this care lets the person know that he has been seen.

And beyond this, it establishes if there is a problem that needs to be solved or if it is already being solved.

It doesn’t require much more time than listening to a story.

If it does, could you have a story you need to tell?