When it comes to listening what does it mean? Is there any difference between listening and hearing? What if we don’t put proper attention to the speaking? To become a good listener means talking less or talking more during a conversation?
One of the best ways to fully understand the term listening is to listen carefully without being judgmental or not only listen for the sake of speaking. Mostly we don’t listen we just hear what others are saying. The vital difference between both of them is, hearing is the power to perceive and listening is to pay full attention to the words of the speaker.
In the world of noise, everyone wants to share his/her thoughts very quickly. We want to listen and do anything else at the same time. Active listening and attention spans are getting shorter. Less or more talking is not about our interest in a conversation but it’s about learning the technique of how to connect someone and give our genuine opinion.
But we are too much busy with our phones, watching TV, and many other activities while a person is talking to us. Making eye contact with the person who is speaking in front of us has become an exceptional thing.
If you want to be a great listener and want to connect with others in a better way, then below mentioned practices are for you:

Let others speak first
Listening is all about giving them space and making them feel respected and esteemed. If you do not let other people speak that means you are dominating the conversation in an immoral way. And always remember you can’t win a conversation without allowing others to speak.

A person who won’t let others to get a word in a conversation is possibly called a self-obsessed or monopolize person. A good listener always waits for his/her turn to speak. He never interrupts the speaker during a conversation and waits until he is done. Because when he expects others to listen to him he gives the same in return.

It’s a fact that most of us love to talk about ourselves. It gives us happiness and a real pleasure. The same is the case of another person who is in the conversation. If you want to make your partner feel worthy let them speak and get them chance to talk about their interests and ideas. A rewarding conversation is always to engage others with an opportunity to speak in a comfortable ambiance.

Maintain talk-listen ratio
There is a childhood proverb that we have two ears and one mouth so we should speak and listen in the same proportion. According to that old age saying listening twice as we speak is the right ratio but some others say 1:10 ratio is ideal. Before talking about talk listen ratio, we should understand that being listened always make others feel good and it means to them that their words are valued.

To understand this ratio in a better way we apply the supply and demand chain rule. If we share our thoughts, ideas, or interests constantly without listening to our conversation partners, no one will pay attention to our non-stop supply of views. It is because supply is exceeding the demand.

It doesn’t mean to shut your mouth all the time but spend more time listening will feel people attached to you more strongly. The real talk- listen ratio doesn’t mean too chatty or too quiet but it means the right one at right time.

Be Patient
If you have the ability of patience then you can achieve the ability to listen and convey your message properly. Patience means letting people finish their speaking without interfering with them. As you gradually get better in an active listening skill you achieve the goal of patience.
Impatience during a conversation make someone rude and inappropriate person.

An impatient person offends others and disturbs a healthy environment. To learn the ability of patience adopts a compassionate approach towards others. A compassionate and empathetic approach will bring people closer to you and help to build a healthy relationship.

If you want to win the conversation then wait for your turn like a substitute player in a football match. You will come to the field definitely but at on a right time.

Don’t Be Judgmental
The first impression is the last; it’s a very common proverb. It means we make a judgment about others based on the way they talk or listen or behave in the very first meeting with them. Being nonjudgmental all the time is not very easy. But in a conversation or debate while listening to others, always try to be open-minded and friendly with them.

An open-minded person respects the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of the speaker. If someone has a different opinion from you that doesn’t mean h/she is wrong. Try to be empathetic and adopt the attitude of acceptance. A positive state of mind lets your peers express their views in a better way.

The primary goal of the listener should not criticize the person but to give value and respect to his/her views. Even though their views may be dissimilar but you should respect them.

Creating a healthy environment
If your place of conversation poses some distractions then it’ll be difficult for you to pay proper attention to the discussion. Someone will not feel happy if you are not paying attention to him/her while talking to you.

Whenever you start a discussion try to turn off the noisy equipment because it can be difficult for someone to listen in a heavy amount of noise. Maintain a good eye contact to show you are listening carefully.

Don’t use cell phones or any other electronics while listening as this is to show interest in what is being said. Neither should you look here and there when the other person is talking to you. Maintain an eye contact and use your facial expressions to indicate the level of your attentiveness.

Demonstrate you are listening
While listening doesn’t play with your hairs or pen or don’t look at your watch. These kinds of body gestures make the speaker uneasy and disturb the environment. Make some sounds like “wow” or “yes” to encourage the speaker to continue. All the time keep a thin smile on your face to show that you are enjoying the conversation.

There’s one more way using which you can demonstrate you’re listening attentively. Perhaps the other person is asking about UVC. Provided you have some knowledge about, say, far UVC, you can try to connect the dots between what you have to say and what they are telling you. This will tell the other person that you’re trying to connect with them.

Don’t try to enforce your opinion
When your loved one or your colleague discussed a problem with you they probably just want to share with you how they are feeling, rather than a piece of advice from your side. Don’t rush with your suggestions. If you want to help out then ask them first, would you like to take any kind of help?

The more we try to impose our beliefs and bits of advice on others, the more damaged our relationships are. Remember if you don’t stop to enforce your beliefs on others then by the end of the conversation people will be frustrated.

Listen, would you like to communicate with the person who tries to change your values and doesn’t listen to you, probably not. Similarly, no one wants to be treated like the way. So keep your views to yourself and don’t impose them on others.

Conclusion
Let’s summarize what you have read above. There are seven ways you can be a great listener, with the most important being not interrupting the other person while they are talking. You might think that you have an extremely brilliant argument in your mind. But it won’t have an effect on the other person if you didn’t let them finish what they started.

Equally important is maintaining the talk-listen ratio. That means, as the adage goes, you must listen twice as much as you speak. Then comes the need to be patient. That involves doing nothing but letting the conversation pan around. Sure, you don’t want to be a silent spectator, but you also don’t want to make the other person feel that they aren’t given the time to speak their mind.

The final two tips involve the demonstration that you’re listening to the other person attentively. This is where you can talk. Ask questions. Give your feedback on their ideas. But you shouldn’t try to enforce your opinion on them. What you’re doing here is engaging in a dialogue in which both persons are equal stakeholders. Let the conversation show this as well.