Sherlock Holmes: The Great Listener

Throughout all of literature, readers have been blessed with being introduced to and entertained a multitude of fascinating and memorable characters. To my mind, one of the most famous and memorable is that great detective Sherlock Holmes. The creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes has been the subject of over 60 stories by Doyle along with numerous motion pictures and television shows. This character, known for his keen intellect, steadfast bravery and powers of observation, remains as timeless as any that I can think of. Even now, over a century since he was introduced to the world, a Holmes adventure remains an enjoyable journey for any reader.

You might guess, in the true fashion of Holmes himself, that recently I had the pleasure of, shall we say, reacquainting myself with the great detective and his loyal companion, Dr. John Watson. Throughout my time with Doyle's invention, I kept asking myself what exactly made Holmes such an insightful and, ultimately, successful detective. Obviously, he is a man of high intelligence, broad experience, and strong will. Anything else? After much pondering, the answer appeared much like the many clues Holmes uncovered in his many cases. Holmes, as much as anything, was a great communicator.

Specifically, Holmes' ability listen to those who came to him for help in solving crimes ranging from theft to kidnapping to murder is as powerful as any character I can name. Case after case he would turn his attention to the stories of others and then begin connecting the pieces of information he would draw from clients and others until he deduced the answer to a mystery that had been alluding all around him. Holmes was and is a great listener. His character serves as a shining example of how effective we can be in the world of communicating if we devote our energies to listening. That is definitely no small thing.