The key to effective communication is to seek first to understand and then to be understood.

Remember that reading, writing, speaking and listening are the four basic types of communication. The ability to do them all well is critical to your effectiveness. While you’ve spent years learning how to read, write and speak, how much training or education have you had effective listening so that you really, deeply understand another from that individuals own frame of reference?

You’re not alone. Few people have had any training in listening at all. If you want to interact effectively with people, practice authentic deep understanding which requires keen listening and insight.

Be an empathic listener, diagnose before you prescribe and get away from evaluating, probing, advising, and interpreting when you are listening.