Why do I only listen to feedback from people I respect?

When someone you admire speaks, you take it in. When someone outside your respect list does, you wave it off. The filter feels reasonable: why listen to people who do not impress you? But truth does not only come from impressive people. A person you do not rate highly can still be right. They might see the one thing everyone above them is too polished to say. By judging the messenger first, you throw away messages that could have helped you, simply because of who carried them. Try separating the two questions: "Do I respect this person?" and "Is this particular thing true?" For one week, when feedback comes from someone you would normally dismiss, test the claim itself before you test the source. You may be surprised how often the overlooked voice was right.