Try this on. Dr. Bernard Lewinsky. Yep, Monica's dad. Clinton's people obviously weren't paying attention when they sent out that letter. But with a little practice, you can become more attentive.
Some tips follow.
A person's words tell only half the story. The other half comes through body language, eye contact, facial expression, and tone of voice. Get in the habit of reading these and you'll learn as much about what the person isn't saying as about what he is. Restate what you heard the person say. Another way to both show you're listening and to reinforce your grasp of the material is to ask an insightful question.