Stay out of the way A good listener keeps the communication path open. One way is to give feedback by asking open-ended questions. Giving advice is setting up a roadblock instead of listening. People who give advice mean well, but greater help often comes from an attentive ear. Don't fear silence.
People often reveal what's most important after a pause.
Listening involves paying attention to both - the total meaning. A good listener knows the meaning of words is found in a dictionary, but the meaning of people is found in listening. We think faster than we talk. This imbalance invites daydreams and distractions, but it also makes careful listening possible. It provides time to evaluate the message, and time to make notes.