Listening skills
1. Don't assume you'll know exactely how to respond to someone - before you've actively lissened to what they have to say. Keep an open mind.
2. When someone else is speaking - be curtious enough to look at them. Maintain eye contact.
3. Body language is important. Both ways. If you're watching you'll catch some clues as to what they're saying and you'll keep the conversation flowing by - relaxing, keeping your arms and legs uncrossed or making nervous gestures such as taping your fingers on a table. Leaning in toward the speaker and smiling is also helpful.
4. Picking out spacific details - rephrasing them in your own words and then asking questions also helps.
5. Lastly - when they are done speaking - you think carefully as to how you will respond.
