Biggest Cat

1. Listen with more than just your ears. Your body language should show interest in listening as well.
2. Periodically, give verbal cues that show you are following closely to what the person is saying, such as “I understand what you say” or “I have often felt the same way” etc.
3. To show interest in what the person is saying, try asking him questions to help him describe what he/she is saying more vividly.
4. Do not interrupt. Wait till there is a visible pause in the conversation, before you do.
5. Do not shift the attention from your friend’s problem to one of your own. This is very putting off for the speaker, because his primary motive is to have you listen to what he is saying. He probably won’t be ready or willing to switch roles for now.
6. This is a very common mistake we all do – we tend to spend time thinking or planning what our response should be, while the person was talking, as a result of which we fail to have actually heard what they just said
7. Try not to let your emotions get in the way of your hearing.
8. Very important – Do not rush the conversation.
9. Most of us may not agree with this, but its better not to try to solve the problem. Most of the times we cannot. We can only politely suggest, or better yet empathize. This is because most of the time, the talker doesn’t expect any solution from you, he just wants you to listen, and pour his heart and mind out.