Listening isn’t easy for most people, but it’s an important skill to master.

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt the need to speak up, even though we really wanted to keep our mouths shut. Why is that?

Why do we want to speak up when we know our words are likely to make others feel bad?

In this post, I’ll talk about why being a good listener is more important than ever, and how to go about being a good listener.

STEP 1: Give Someone Your Full Attention

The first step is the most important part, so let’s start with that. When you’re listening to someone, you need to give them your full attention.

When you’re talking to someone, you may find yourself distracted by your thoughts, your phone, or anything else that comes into your mind. But when you’re listening to someone, you need to listen 100% of the time.

STEP 2: Take Notes

Taking notes is an important part of listening, but only if you use them. If you just take notes and never use them, then you’re wasting your time.

So the next time you hear someone speaking, try taking notes. Write down everything you remember from what was said. It could be things like names, places, or even ideas.

STEP 3: Look For Patterns

What I mean by this is looking for patterns in what someone is saying. For example, you might notice that whenever your friend mentions the word “work”, he or she is always talking about his or her job.

What does this mean? It could mean that your friend is very focused on his or her job, or maybe he or she is just talking a lot about work.

STEP 4: Remember What You’ve Written

Finally, when you’re done taking notes, don’t forget to look at them later. When you review your notes, look for patterns. If you notice a pattern, it may mean that your friend is focusing on a certain subject.

That’s it. By taking these four steps, you’ll be a better listener, and you’ll have a better chance of staying in the flow of what the person is saying.