Why is it important to respond to every inquiry?

It is important to respond to every inquiry because it is a basic expectation of communication, even if you are busy or cannot directly help. The author notes that people are often surprised when he answers, responds, and gets back to every inquiry via email, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Facebook, despite being very busy. He explains that if he can help, he does; if he can refer, he does; and if not, he still responds, often with an apology. This practice, though seemingly basic, is not common, and the article aims to raise awareness about the necessity of responding to people, emphasizing that even a 'no' is a valuable answer.