Retention is the by product of doing the right thing in the right way for students. It's an important initiative for everyone on campus because many students who are not retained, could have been retained with the correct efforts and outreach. 

Active listening is a vital tool used in communication. Visualizing is also a great tool to use when someone is explaining something to you. Picturing what they are saying in your mind, as they say it leads to a deeper understanding.

Truly listening means listening with your eyes, ears, and hearts. It is important to clear the filters in your mind before you can truly listen and hear what someone is truly saying. 

It's important to use the correct types of questions, to clarify as needed, and avoid questioning traps. 

I have learned that the attributes to powerful questions are simplicity, purpose, energy, possibilities, and exploration. Effective questions have the ability to plant an idea in the receiver's mind and activate knowledge that is just below the surface.