If, however, the habit of not listening extends to other people, we are making a sad mistake. In his book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," Stephen Covey called listening to others “the magical habit.” It’s the key to making the listening habit magical. Listening well is a skill that showers both listener and listenee with magical benefits. Of the many paths to the human heart, none tops this: an open ear connected to an open heart.