Listen To Understand, Not To Respond.

If there is one communication skill you want to aim and master, then listening it is. 

 According to Rachel Naomi Remen "the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen".  Just listen.  Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.

  Listening is the capability to precisely receive and understand/interpret messages in the communication process.

Listening is key to all effective communication, without the ability to listen effectively messages are easily misunderstood  and communication breaks down and the sender of the message can easily become frustrated or irritated.

Listening is very important that many individual such as; students, employees, employer, manager etc have desired to it. We spend a lot of time to listen, but the thing is “Did we are really listening”? the are some instance that it looks like we are listening to the person who is talking or so called pretend listening, but its totally not, we just nod* down our head if the speaker going to ask if he/she understand of what he/she talking about.

Listening requires not just your hearing but your concentration, presence of mind and attention, which in return you could understand and respond accurately and give a feedback of what he/she talking about.

According to Mark Twain “If we were supposed to talk more than we listen, we would have two tongues and one ear.”

Don't talk, but  listen.  When somebody else is talking listen to what they are saying, do not interrupt, talk over them or finish their sentences for them.  Stop, just listen.  When the other person has finished talking you may need to clarify to ensure you have received their message accurately.

And one more thing use Nod* and other gestures or words to encourage them to continue. 

Maintain eye contact but don’t stare, show to his/her that you are listening and understand what is being said. Don't become irritated and don't let other person’s habits or mannerisms distract you from what the speaker is really saying. Everybody has a different way of speaking. Just focus on what is being said and try to ignore styles of delivery.

Its not easy to talk, specially when you are talking to, is not listening. It is a mean of disrespect and being so rude to the speaker.