--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Communication creates collaboration. Big…" description: "\"“Communication creates collaboration. Big ears are better than big egos. When you’re not listening, ask good questions.”\" — Bill Walsh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/bill-walsh-8609_communication_communication-creates-collaboration-big_3183264.jpg" --- # Communication creates collaboration. Big ears are better… ![“Communication creates collaboration. Big ears are better than big egos. When you’re not listening, ask good questions.” quote by Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/bill-walsh-8609_communication_communication-creates-collaboration-big_3183264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/bill-walsh-8609_communication_communication-creates-collaboration-big_3183264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/bill-walsh-8609_communication_communication-creates-collaboration-big_3183264.jpg) > ““Communication creates collaboration. Big ears are better than big egos. When you’re not listening, ask good questions.”” [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective teamwork arises from listening and asking thoughtful questions rather than dominating conversations. **In simple terms:** Listening and good questions foster collaboration. Key Takeaway Listen first, ask wisely, build teamwork. Themes communication leadership teamwork humility Mood motivational practical Type leadership inspirational When to use this quote - sports teams - business meetings - project groups - educational settings Key Concepts active listening questioning collaborative culture Questions to Reflect On - What questions reveal hidden insights? - How can you encourage quieter members? A Different Perspective Dominating voices can still suppress ideas despite good questions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Collaboration Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collaboration-big-5841582/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Communication Creates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication-creates-5841583/) [Ears Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears-better-5667891/) [Egos Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egos-listening-5841581/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Listening Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening-ask-4209858/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) ## Related quotes > [“Change before you have to.—Jack Welch Wisdom is the reward for a lifetime of listening when you would have preferred to talk.—Doug Larson Communication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/change-before-you-have-to-jack-welch-wisdom-is-the-reward-for-a/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) > [Men with pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They have both experienced pain and bought jewelry!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/men-with-pierced-ears-are-better-prepared-for-marriage-they-have-both/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“Chiss eyes were a bit better than those of humans, their visible spectrum edging a bit into the infrared. Apparently, their ears were better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-zahn/chiss-eyes-were-a-bit-better-than-those-of-humans-their-visible/) [Timothy Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-zahn/) > [The walls have ears, better think before you throw that shoe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/the-walls-have-ears-better-think-before-you-throw-that-shoe/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > ['SoulPancake' is a website that I founded with a couple of friends, and it is for exploring life's big questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/soulpancake-is-a-website-that-i-founded-with-a-couple-of-friends-and/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [I follow a simple formula when I compose. I ask myself, 'What would the audience want to hear?' and 'Why would they buy my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-follow-a-simple-formula-when-i-compose-i-ask-myself-what-would-the/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [I think if you're too embroiled in the need to relate too closely to the character, then you start to judge the character for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-if-you-re-too-embroiled-in-the-need-to-relate-too-closely-to/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I take my laptop with me on the road. When I come home, I log onto AOL, go to the Web site, and answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-trucks/i-take-my-laptop-with-me-on-the-road-when-i-come-home-i-log-onto-aol/) [Butch Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-trucks/) > [All the questions, all the speculation, No. 2 driver and so on, it doesn't get to me. It doesn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valtteri-bottas/all-the-questions-all-the-speculation-no-2-driver-and-so-on-it-doesn/) [Valtteri Bottas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valtteri-bottas/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [I was allowed to believe things that weren't true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/i-was-allowed-to-believe-things-that-weren-t-true-and-i-would-ask/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [“The best questions are ones never asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cory-molloy/the-best-questions-are-ones-never-asked/) [Robert Cory Molloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cory-molloy/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The book is not simply the object that one holds in one's hands, and it cannot remain within the little parallelpiped that contains it:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/the-book-is-not-simply-the-object-that-one-holds-in-one-s-hands-and/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) ## More by Bill Walsh > [Instilling the right culture almost always takes time. And inevitably there will be some who balk against your standards. But, you must have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/instilling-the-right-culture-almost-always-takes-time-and-inevitably/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Calculated risks are part of what you do, but the idea that something completely crazy will work just because it's completely crazy is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do-but-the-idea-that-something/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [A harsh reality of newspaper editing is that the deadlines don't allow for the polish that you expect in books or even magazines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/a-harsh-reality-of-newspaper-editing-is-that-the-deadlines-don-t/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [All successful leaders know where we want to go, figure out a way we believe will get the organization there, and then move forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/all-successful-leaders-know-where-we-want-to-go-figure-out-a-way-we/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [The ability to help the people around me self-actualize their goals underlines the single aspect of my abilities and the label that I value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/the-ability-to-help-the-people-around-me-self-actualize-their-goals/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [The running game in pro football has gotten so boring. There's just four or five plays they can run. I think the whole thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/the-running-game-in-pro-football-has-gotten-so-boring-there-s-just/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Everybody isn't everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/everybody-isn-t-everybody/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [You can only succeed when people are communicating, not just from the top down, but in complete interchange. Communication comes from fighting off my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/you-can-only-succeed-when-people-are-communicating-not-just-from-the/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Your enthusiasm becomes their enthusiasm; your lukewarm presentation becomes their lukewarm interest in what you're offering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/your-enthusiasm-becomes-their-enthusiasm-your-lukewarm-presentation/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Victory is produced by and belongs to all. Winning a Super Bowl results from you whole team not only doing their individual jobs but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/victory-is-produced-by-and-belongs-to-all-winning-a-super-bowl/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [One of the common traits of outstanding performers-coaches, athletes, managers, sales representatives, executives, and others who face a daily up/down, win/lose accounting system-is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/one-of-the-common-traits-of-outstanding-performers-coaches-athletes/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Consistent motivation usually comes from a consuming desire to be able to perform at your best under pressure, namely, the pressure produced by tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/consistent-motivation-usually-comes-from-a-consuming-desire-to-be/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Invest in great relationships, they will pay a lifetime of dividends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/invest-in-great-relationships-they-will-pay-a-lifetime-of-dividends/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [There is a weird phenomenon where technology seems to be getting dumber in some ways as it gets smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/there-is-a-weird-phenomenon-where-technology-seems-to-be-getting/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Concentrate on what will produce results rather than on the results, the process rather than the prize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/concentrate-on-what-will-produce-results-rather-than-on-the-results/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) [Explore all 79 Bill Walsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) [Yoram Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoram-wind/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) [Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Communication creates collaboration. Big ears are better than big egos. 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