Always speak in such a way that others will want to continue listening. Here are some common ways to break “the simple rule.”

• Contributing too often.
• Talking too long (a contribution of about 60 seconds generally works well. That’s not a “rule” but if you watch people they tend to tune out at about a minute.
• Acting like the authority.
• Being argumentative or contentious.
• Not tracking with the group. Listen carefully and stay on track with the subject being discussed. Make room for other points of view and try to draw others in to the discussion.

If people aren’t listening—that glassy stare—you probably need to consider “The Simple Rule.”