Listen actively

Be curious about your partner’s point of view rather than trying to anticipate every situation. Active listening involves:

• Paying attention to your partner.
• Tolerating your silence.
• Paying attention to your partner’s nonverbal communication.
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Resist the common urge to think about what you’re going to say next while your counterpart is talking and listen carefully to her arguments, then paraphrase what you believe she said to check your understanding. 

Acknowledge any difficult feelings, like frustration, behind the messag...

A 5-to-1 ratio is about right: You should listen to others five minutes for every one minute that you speak. Wealthy people are good communicators because they are good listeners. They understand that you can learn and educate yourself only by listening to what other people have to say.