Listening

Listening is what we do best. It's an active skill, which helps you to connect with the person you are talking to. Being a good listener is about caring enough to take time out, and being there for another person.

The secrets of effective listening are:

• Showing empathy and being understanding by putting yourself in another person's situation and sharing their feelings.
• Being comfortable with silence in everyday conversation. Instead of talking, wait patiently and give the other person time and space to explain how they feel.
• Being sensitive and caring. Sometimes it takes a lot of courage for someone to share how they feel, so it's important that you don't judge them, but just accept them for who they are.