Remember, a pause or a few seconds of silence doesn’t mean that you have to jump in. If you are naturally a quicker thinker or speaker, force yourself to slow down so that the other person can express themselves. Don’t interruptīeing interrupted is frustrating for the other person – it gives the impression that you think you’re more important, or that you don’t have time for what they have to say. Even on the phone, you can learn a lot from the other person’s voice, which might sound subdued or upbeat. Pay attention to what the other person is saying with their body language - are they smiling, for example, or are their arms crossed defensively, or are they rubbing their eyes as if they're tired or upset.

Pay attention to what the other person is saying with their body languageįacial expressions, tone of voice and gestures can tell you just as much as what is being said in words. Leaning slightly forward or sideways whilst sitting can show that you’re listening – as can a slight tilt of your head or resting your head on your hand. When you look away, looking to the side or up is better than looking down, which can seem like you want to close the conversation.Ĭheck your posture and make sure it’s open – avoid crossed arms or crossed legs, which can make you look ‘closed’ or defensive. Try breaking eye contact every five seconds or so, or to show you’re listening attentively, look at one eye for five seconds, then another eye for five seconds, then switch to looking at their mouth. Too much eye contact can be intimidating, though, so adapt this to the situation you’re in. 1. Face the speaker and have eye contactĮye contact is an important part of face to face conversation.

Here are 10 easy ways to make your communication more effective and make the other person feel more valued. This is called active listening, and it can help avoid misunderstanding and reduce the potential for conflict. When we show we’re really listening, it’s much more rewarding for the person talking to you, and you’ll get more out of it too. But most of us aren’t as good at listening as we’d like to think. Listening is an important skill in all areas of life, whether you’re supporting a loved one through health problems, dealing with colleagues or in family relationships.

Active listening exercises