Article: Whenever someone is talking to you, make eye contact with them and pay attention to what they’re telling you. It shows them that you’re listening to them and understand what they’re saying.  Focus your attention entirely on the speaker so they feel comfortable speaking to you. Lean in close or ask the person if you can move to a quieter area if you’re having trouble hearing. Body language can say just as much if not more a person’s words. While someone is talking to you, observe their body language to help inform how you should respond.  For example, if someone keeps looking around or shifting on their feet, they may be nervous or scared. You may want to ask them if they’re alright rather than responding to what they say. Also listen to how they say what they’re saying. If their voice is loud or aggressive, they may be getting upset or angry about the conversation. You may need to take a different approach when you respond to avoid further escalating the situation. If you get so excited or eager to respond before someone has finished speaking, they’ll notice and they may get upset. Wait until they’ve finished speaking and you’ve heard everything that they wanted to say before you start to plan your response. It’s very rude to interject with your own thoughts while someone is speaking. When you’re talking to someone, allow them to finish their thought before you respond. That way you have all of the facts and information that they wanted to convey so you can give a considered and informed response. Sometimes people will add an additional bit of information after they finished their thought. For example, they may say something like, “Oh wait, I forgot to say something.” Let them finish saying what they wanted to say. Before you give your response, take a brief moment to consider all of the information that was given to you. If you give a response that is ill-informed, it could show the person that you weren’t really listening to what they were saying. Taking a moment to think about your response also ensures that you give an intelligent response. If you couldn’t quite hear or understand what someone was saying, don’t try to respond with partial or an incorrect understanding. Ask them what they said or what they mean so you can give them a real response.  If you’re unsure of someone’s intention or if you want to allow them to explain what they really mean before you respond, ask an open-ended question like, “What do you mean by that?”  It never hurts to ask someone to repeat themselves if you couldn’t hear or didn’t fully understand what they said. After you’ve considered what was said to you and you’ve thought about what you want to say, speak clearly and confidently. Don’t use vague or contradictory language to try to sound smarter or clever. People appreciate sincerity, so give them a genuine response that shows them that you care and that you understand them.  Make sure they’re paying attention to you so you don’t have to repeat yourself. Recognize if someone else wants to speak and allow them room to talk as well. Allow the person to respond to what you’ve said as well. Don’t just walk away or end the conversation because you’ve had a chance to speak. Even if you’ve thought about what you wanted to say, there is always the possibility that somebody will disagree with what you have to say. That’s okay! Just be prepared for someone to dispute or try to disparage you for what you have to say.  Keep a cool head and don’t lose your temper if someone is trying to provoke you. Allow someone to state their beliefs and opinions. Don’t try to force them to accept your views.

What is a summary?
Listen closely when someone is speaking to you. Pay attention to nonverbal cues from the person speaking. Avoid planning your response while someone is talking. Wait until they’re finished talking before you talk. Think about your response so you can say it with confidence. Ask questions if you need clarification or more information. Speak directly and clearly when you respond. Be ready for someone to disagree with you.