How To Become An Even Better Listener

Listening, believe it or not, is a skill.

Have you ever heard someone give the compliment of just HOW GOOD of a listener their partner is? At first, it seems a bit like a silly compliment…how are some people better at sitting there and hearing words than others?

It’s because active listening — the type of listening that makes the speaker feel heard, seen, and understood, requires more than just sitting like a bump on a log and letting them ramble on while you wait for them to stop.

When we discuss the importance of communication skills (this goes for every area of life, not just intimate relationships), I believe that most people interpret it as being articulate, or clear in your thoughts, or concise expression of your feelings.

The truth is, though, that healthy communication is just as much about listening than it is about speaking, and sometimes even more so.

Below, we’ll discuss five things that amazing listeners do, so you can adapt them to your own personal style and build an even stronger connection with the people you care about.

1: Help the other person to feel safe.

There are some people who immediately recoil when they hear the word “safe” because they associate it…