Give the speaker your full attention
Put away distractions
Maintain eye contact
Do not interrupt
Let the speaker finish their thoughts
Listen to understand, not to respond
Ask clarifying questions
Reflect back what you heard
Show patience
Avoid judging too quickly
Pay attention to tone and body language
Be present in the moment
Pause before replying
Summarize key points
Acknowledge the speaker’s feelings
Stay open-minded
Resist planning your response while they are talking
Use encouraging nonverbal cues
Be respectful and attentive
Practice active listening regularly