Listening to others without prematurely forming opinions is a critical skill for designers, especially in design thinking. This approach ensures that designers fully understand users’ perspectives, which is essential for creating solutions that genuinely meet their needs.

To develop this skill, designers should practice:

• Active listening: Focus intently on what users are saying, without planning your response while they're speaking.
• Ask open-ended questions: Ask questions that encourage detailed responses. This helps in gathering comprehensive information and avoids assumptions.
• Delay judgment: Reserve forming opinions or solutions until you've thoroughly processed all the information. This prevents bias and ensures a user-centric approach.
• Conduct reflective feedback: Paraphrase or summarize what you've heard to ensure clarity and show users that their input is valued and understood.