THE ART OF LISTENING

"There is an art in silence, and there is an eloquence in it, too."

Being a good listener is a forgotten art that is simply magic. Show people you are sincerely interested in what they are saying; give them all the eager attention and appreciation that they crave and are so hungry for, but seldom get.

Here's how you can develop the art of listening:

• Look people straight in the eyes when they are talking.

• Give them your undivided attention. This communicates that you think what they have to say is important.

• Listen to what people are actually saying.

• When you really listen, it makes any questions you ask more productive; you will uncover what they are not saying.

• When you uncover what they are not saying, you have helped them discover what they needed to say, but didn't know how.

Become a good listener.